Business crime hitting city hard

From the archive, first published Wednesday 6th Dec 2006.

Bradford is ranked sixth-worst in the country for business-based crime, according to figures from a leading insurer.

But the city has seen a slight tumble in the number of claims which businesses attributed to crime, said AXA.

In its Business Crime Index, Bradford ranks sixth, lower than Middlesbrough, Cardiff, Liverpool, Derby and the worst' city, Birmingham, for crime-based claims.

The proportion of claims settled between July and September in Bradford resulting from criminal activity was 22.46 per cent - a drop of 1.21 per cent compared to the second quarter of this year.

The figures for the third quarter of 2006 rank Leeds 13th, with Manchester ninth.

The average claim settlement amount is £3,524, with over half of business crimes relating to theft. Arson claims highest payouts

Neil Mercier, AXA property insurance manager, said: "We are concerned by the findings, as criminal activity towards businesses continues to rise.

"It is particularly troubling as our experience reveals business crime generally increases in the fourth quarter of the year, which will make worrying reading for UK businesses this festive season.

"We believe a contributing factor is the impact of Christmas, when many retailers find their stores busier and more difficult to protect from crime, while the general distraction and goodwill of the festive period can lead to a lowered guard.

"With many premises left empty over the period, businesses make easier targets than usual. We are urging businesses to remain vigilant."