More visible policing, increased CCTV surveillance and tougher sentencing have been called for by the representative organisation for small business, Isme, which referred to a “growing epidemic” of crime against business.

A survey conducted for Isme found that slightly more than a third of the businesses that responded had been the victims of crime over the previous 12 months and that a fifth of those had not reported the matter. More than four-fifths of those affected by crime had been the victims of more than one episode over the period.

The survey was conducted in July and saw 924 companies respond after 4,000 Isme member businesses were contacted by email.

Last year the survey found that 39 per cent of respondents had been affected by crime in the previous 12 months, a higher percentage than this year (36 per cent). However, this year’s figure for those affected more than once (86 per cent) is up on last year’s figure (75 per cent).

Isme chief executive Mark Fielding said it was imperative more public funds were allocated to tackle "this growing epidemic" and the Government had a responsibility to ensure the impact of crime on the economy was reduced.

‘Damning indictment’

Pointing out that 98 per cent of respondents felt the justice system was ineffective in dealing with business crime, Mr Fielding said the result was a “damning indictment of the judicial system”.

“The business community has the right to expect that, when found guilty, a perpetrator of crime against business will be dealt with appropriately by the judiciary,” he said.

Mr Fielding said €1.62 billion was being drained from the economy annually because of business crime and that this money could be better used creating jobs and developing businesses.