Crime surge presents a new security challenge for UK businesses

UK businesses have enjoyed two full decades of falling crime in an age of heightening security concerns. Whilst many businesses have still been the victim of burglary, the overall trend has been downwards. However worrying new government statistics reveal that the age of falling crime may now be at an end. Currently unpublished police data reveals a sudden surge in property related crime in particular with thieves targeting computer equipment and smart phones.

Earlier in the year The British Crime Survey revealed that reported crime levels were at their lowest level since the survey began in 1981 with crimes such as shoplifting and burglary at half of the levels seen when crime peaked in 1995. However significant cuts of up to 20% in police budgets now seem to be taking a toll with a projected reduction in police numbers of up to 15,000 by 2016. This reduction in police manpower coincides with hard financial times for many people and an increase in crimes related to first time offences.

New crime figures for burglary in the North West reveal a 7.8% increase, with an increase of 17% in Greater Manchester. Shoplifting in Merseyside is up 17.6%. Chief of Constabulary for Lancashire, Steve Finnigan has described the situation as ‘quite disturbing trends’. London has seen particularly sharp rises in crimes related to the theft of smart phones and tablet computers.

So what does this mean for your business security? Well first of all you should carry out a thorough review of your current security arrangements for your business. Do you have an adequate burglar alarm or intruder alarm? Is your access control good enough to prevent uninvited access to your business premises during working hours – thus preventing ‘casual’ theft. You should make sure that you have CCTV in place and that you have adequate locks to both keep your premises safe and meet your insurance requirements.

The best way to ensure that your business security is adequate is to contact an NSI (NACOSS) GOLD accredited professional business security specialist company. Many of these companies will provide a survey and recommendations to keep your business safe free of charge. Once the survey is complete you can decide which security measures to adopt safe in the knowledge that you are in good hands for the installation and implementation.

For a discreet no obligation survey to assess how your safe business is and how well your premises are protected please call Greg Cutler on 0800 393364 or email info@britsectec.com.

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