THREE out of four owners of small firms are concerned about the effect crime is having on their business.

And nine out of ten feel let down by the judicial system when it comes to tackling crime.

These are the findings in a survey by the Federation of Small Businesses.

Bolton-based Denis Edmondson, the FSB's regional chairman, said the survey showed that crime against business needs to be given more priority.

"The FSB believes the same priority must be given to business crime as is allocated to domestic crime," he said. "We welcome the Home Secretary's decision to clamp down but there is clearly much more to be done.

"Recent cutbacks in police budgets mean it is domestic offences that usually receive the most attention."

Ten per cent of respondents said they had experienced difficulty in obtaining insurance cover because of the impact of crime on their business.

And 48 per cent felt their insurance was excessive due to the impact of crime.

Mr Edmondson added: "Town centres are becoming more uncomfortable places for communities as rising crime levels impact upon businesses, forcing them to put up shutters and downgrade displays to dissuade vandals and petty thieves.

"It is therefore in the interest of everyone, not just small business, that this issue is tackled firmly."

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