A recent study from security experts, Alexandra Security based on data supplied by the government has revealed that there has been a significant decline in crime rates at business premises over the last decade. The report looked at incidents of crime faced by businesses, comparing them to those occurring in the previous ten years.
The findings showed that 28% of all business premises have experienced a crime of any kind in the last 12 months, a significant drop from the 46% reported in 2012. This reflects an almost 40% reduction in incidents over ten years!
One of the most striking changes is in the type of crimes experienced by businesses. Theft was the most common crime reported by 15% of business premises. Theft by a customer stood out as the primary concern, reported by 11% of the premises. Other forms of theft were less frequent, including theft by unknown persons (4%), theft by others (1%), and theft by an employee (1%).
Comparatively, in 2012, thefts overwhelmingly dominated the crime landscape, with 6.8 million incidents, comprising 74% of the surveyed incidents. These incidents affected a quarter of the business premises surveyed (24%).
Burglary and vandalism were each experienced by 9% of business premises, compared to previous years when these figures were higher. Assaults or threats were reported by 7% of business premises, down from previous years. Robbery and vehicle-related theft also decreased, affecting 3% of business premises.
The survey further categorised crime vulnerability by business sector. Businesses in the wholesale and retail sectors experienced a 42% incidence rate, showing a notable decrease from 2012, when the rate was 53%. Similarly, the transportation, accommodation, and food sectors reported a 36% incidence rate down from 43% in 2012.
Manufacturing business premises experienced a 30% incidence rate, unchanged from 2012, suggesting stability in this sector. Premises in this sector were most likely to be victims of burglaries, vandalism, or theft.
Notably, 8% of business premises across all sectors experienced at least one type of online crime. The manufacturing sector had the highest rate of online crime, while the accommodation and food sector had the highest rate of assaults and threats.
Commenting on these findings, a spokesperson from Alexandra Security, Dave Bond, said, “The data suggests that businesses have made significant strides in improving their security measures over the last decade, a promising sign for business owners and customers.
Our research revealed that the three most commonly employed security measures by businesses are a functional alarm system (73%), secure window and door locks (66%), and external CCTV cameras (63%). Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that criminals are increasingly adopting more sophisticated tactics.
In addition to these measures, it’s critical to have soft preventative measures that serve as deterrents to criminals. Automatic gates, for instance, deter burglars by making access difficult and signalling advanced security. When paired with a mesh gate, Mesh privacy fencing offers high-quality security and excellent privacy, making it a popular choice for businesses aiming to protect their premises,” Bond added.
