Crime increasingly a ‘serious barrier’ to UK growth, say business leaders

Shoplifting (posed by a model). There has been an increase in shoplifting, fraud and cyber-attacks against businesses in the UK. Photograph: Murdo Macleod/The Guardian

UK business leaders have warned that crime is becoming an increasingly “serious barrier” to growing Britain’s economy amid a rise in shoplifting, fraud and cyber-attacks against companies.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), which represents tens of thousands of businesses across the country, called on the government to provide “a step change in the support businesses can count on” as it said two-fifths of companies had experienced some form of crime in the past year.