Almost half of British firms have been a victim of physical crime, according to new analysis by finance provider Capital on Tap, which combined Freedom of Information responses from police forces with a survey of 500 business owners.
Scope of the problem
The report found that 45% of businesses said they had experienced physical crime, and 73% of business owners believe crime against businesses is worsening. Among those that had been targeted, the most frequently reported offences were theft (59%), attempted break-ins (52%), property damage (51%) and vandalism (50%).
Which sectors and areas are worst hit
Retail businesses reported the highest exposure to theft-related offences: of businesses in that sector that had experienced crime, 94% cited shoplifting, burglary or stolen stock. The combined analysis produced a list of police force areas with the highest rates of business crime per 100,000 population, with several predominantly rural counties appearing near the top.
| Police force area | Business crimes per 100,000 people |
|---|---|
| Cambridgeshire | 2,804 |
| Nottinghamshire | 2,403 |
| Bedfordshire | 2,171 |
| Lincolnshire | 1,966 |
| Dorset | 1,816 |
Business fears and resilience
The research indicates a widespread perception among owners that their firms could become targets: seven in ten respondents said they feared their own business might be affected. The survey and FOI analysis were used to assess not only the scale of offending but also preparedness and the potential financial impact on firms already dealing with rising costs and economic uncertainty.
"While no business can eliminate the risk of crime entirely, being financially prepared can make it much easier to recover when the unexpected happens,"
The report's author offered practical measures to mitigate risk and the financial consequences, urging firms to ensure insurance reflects true value, hold emergency funds where feasible, invest in preventative security, and maintain access to finance for urgent costs.
Implications for policing and business policy
The findings highlight a tension for policy makers and policing bodies: higher business crime rates in some rural counties suggest that local context matters and that resource allocation and prevention strategies may need to account for different threat profiles outside urban centres. For businesses, the study underlines the value of both preventative measures and contingency planning to reduce disruption and financial loss.
- 45% of UK businesses reported experiencing physical crime.
- 59% of those victims experienced theft; retail especially affected.
- Several rural counties show higher business-crime rates per 100,000 residents than many metropolitan areas.
