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Don'tDiscount Crime: Crime Prevention Advice For Retailers
PRESS RELEASE
DON’T DISCOUNT CRIME : CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE FOR RETAILERS
September 2007
Strabane Community Safety Partnership this week launched the new ‘Don’t Discount Crime’ postcards which give practical safety advice to shop owners and their staff to ensure they take reasonable steps to keep their business free from crime.. Statistics taken from Federation of Small Business’s ‘Lifting the Barriers to Growth in UK Small Businesses 2006’ survey revealed that Northern Ireland now has the highest level of business crime in the UK. Over half (57%) of businesses had been a victim of crime in 2005, however, the research revealed that the true extent of business crime is not reflected in official figures as many businesses have opted out of the criminal justice system – tending to report crime mainly for insurance purposes as opposed to getting the issue dealt with.
Business related crime is a priority within Strabane Safety Strategy. This includes all crime targeted at local businesses. It is a broad term, which covers internal crimes (e.g. employee theft, fraud and false accounting and external crime (e.g. burglary, customer theft and vandalism). Retail crime is a major issue for retailers and society. It costs the industry billions of pounds every year on top pf additional money needed for crime prevention initiatives.
Reducing the risk of crime in business will help to ensure the safety of staff and customers and protect profits. Councillor Tom McBride, Chairman of Strabane Community Safety Partnership said “Retail crime affects everyone and it can have a devastating impact on the viability of a business and the personal security of staff and customers. Protecting your staff, premises and profits from crime makes good business sense. These postcards give top tips on reducing crime for all types and sizes of businesses; and tells you where to go for further advice”.
Locally, crime, and the fear of crime, is a concern for many small businesses with the most common crimes reported being acts of vandalism, criminal damage, graffiti and problems with youths hanging around. Small businesses are often very vulnerable to crime, as they lack the human and financial resources of larger businesses to implement crime prevention measures. Business crime can directly impact on day to day business activities. It can damage a business’ image, resulting in the loss of existing customers and deterioration in the quality and range of services offered by the business, which limit turnover and restrict business development. Small firms often have low profit margins and the cost of crime can seriously threaten the viability of the business. The affect of crime on small firms can also be devastating for the wider community. The consequences of business crime, such as firms closing down or relocating, are often a major contributing factor to the decline of town centres and wider communities. Areas are then deprived of much needed facilities and employment opportunities.
For a copy of the ‘Don’t Discount Crime’ postcards contact Strabane Community Safety Partnership on 028 7138 1319.
For further details contact: Catherine Collins, Acting Community Safety Co-ordinator, Strabane Community Safety Partnership
Tel: 028 71381 319, Email: ccollins@strabanedc.com
