Businesses Beware: Crime rising in the UK

Latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics show an overall crime rise of almost 13% in England and Wales. This brings the total number of crimes recorded to the five million mark for the first time in 10 years.

The figures arrived just days after senior officers of the Metropolitan Police claimed that violent crime is soaring in the UK and is in danger of getting out of control due to “significant reductions in resources”.

In terms of crime against businesses, previous years reports highlight just how big the problem has been. The most recent survey in 2016 recorded over 5.2 million incidents of crime against businesses, particularly those in the wholesale and retail sectors.

The latest figures show the number of robberies against business properties to be around 6,599 incidents, non-domestic burglaries at 187,802 and incidents of shoplifting a staggering 377,172. The figures also include other offences which businesses can also fall victim too such as criminal damage and arson, of which there were 578,596 incidents between July 2016 and June 2017.

At Gateway Automation, we have vast experience helping businesses protect themselves against criminal elements and finding ways to curb burglary, theft, vandalism, and arson. We provide a range of products to help businesses secure their sites as well as nationwide Perimeter Security Servicing. To find out more about what we do, contact us today.