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INSURER FIGHTS CRIME WITH NEW WEBSITE
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A NEW WEBSITE designed to help small businesses avoid becoming victims of crime has been set up by insurer Premierline Direct. The site www.beatbusinesscrime.co.uk helps businesses to calculate their risk and then work through lists of suggestions for improving security, both from external threats and employees.
PDFs available on the site cover external security lighting, carrying cash, marking equipment and assets, and using a safe, among other other measures. There is also advice and recommendations for preventing break-ins, theft and fraud.
One-third of small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) believe crime against businesses is on the rise, says Premierline. The average cost for a small business claim amounts to £3,409, which is money the business owner would have to find themselves if they didn't have adequate insurance cover.
Research conducted on behalf of Premierline found the most common type of crime against businesses is theft from premises (54%). This is followed by fraud (19%), malicious damage (16%), and theft from a vehicle (16%). Other types of events experienced by SMEs included online fraud and theft from staff.
Of the SMEs that have been victims of crime, 35% have been targeted more than three times and 36% have had an incident in the past 12 months.