Risk Factors

The main national surveys, along with local studies, highlight significant factors affecting the risk of crime to businesses.

Location

Studies show:

• regional variations in the risks of different types of crime. For example, robbery was concentrated in the north west and Greater London

• higher risks of crime for businesses in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Recent work by Policy Action Team 13 highlights the particular problems faced by traders in these areas, including isolation, tight margins, fear of physical attack and concern about reprisals.

Report of Policy Action Team 13: Improving Shopping Access for People Living in Deprived Neighbourhoods, London, Department of Health.

• higher levels of risk for

  • Retailers in outdoor shopping precincts

  • Manufacturers sited in non-industrial areas such as shopping centres or main roads

• In the Commercial Victimisation Survey, being situated on a commercial or industrial estate increased the risk of crime for manufacturers.

Type of goods held on the premises:

Surveys show higher risks for premises storing or manufacturing:

• drugs

• alcohol and/or cigarettes

• computers and/or computer software

• high value electrical equipment.

Staff working hours and shift patterns

The Scottish Business Crime Survey found that the level of crime increased with the number of hours worked.

• Businesses whose staff worked on Saturdays and Sundays suffered more crime than businesses whose staff worked on Saturdays only, They in turn suffered more crime than premises closed at weekends.

• Premises operating shifts over the full 24 hours were at higher risk of crime, and in particular violent crime, than businesses operating normal business hours.

• The risks were greater still for businesses operating shifts but not for the full 24 hours.

Racial differences:

A study of small retailers in four areas of London found that some 80% of Asian shopkeepers had experienced crime and aggressive incidents other than burglary.

• 12% reported experiencing theft on a daily basis

• 4% reported experiencing threatening behaviour at least weekly

• 18% experienced verbal abuse daily.

The proportion experiencing other crimes within a twelve month period were:

• burglary or attempted burglary    22%

• assault on staff            12%

• racial harassment          8%

A high proportion of the shopkeepers thought that some of the incidents they suffered were racially motivated. For example, in Newham 42% of victims of shop theft suspected a racial motive.

Source: P Ekblom & F Simon with Sneh Birch, (1988) Crime Prevention and Racial Harassment in Asian-run Small shops: the scope for prevention, Police Research Group Crime Prevention Unit Series, Paper 15, London: Home Office

Roughly one in twelve incidents of criminal damage, violent attacks and abuse in the Belgrave area of Leicester were believed by the victims to have been racially motivated.

Source: Wood, J et al, Crime against small business: Facing the challenge, Crime Concern 1997.

Localised factors

In the Scottish Business Crime Survey visits to individual premises highlighted localized factors that either heightened or reduced the risk of crime in specific cases. Localised factors increasing risk included:

• A lack of, or difficulties in surveillance

• Expensive equipment on site

• Vandalism ‘attractors’ e.g. fuel and wood kept in yards

• Vehicles left at night or for prolonged periods

• A supply of offenders nearby.

Factors reducing risk included:

• Limited access points

• Bulky and inexpensive stock

• Surveillance opportunities (inside and outside the premises)

• Physical security

• No offenders living close by