Crime is costing Irish small and medium-sized businesses €2.15 billion annually and fewer than one in 10 such businesses are confident crimes committed against them would be solved, according to a new survey to be published today.

The survey, by the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME), reveals a 13 per cent increase in crime committed against business in the 12 months to May 2004.

Over half, 53 per cent, of the firms surveyed had fallen victim to crime in the period under review.

This rises to 81 per cent in the retailers category.

Some 77 per cent of companies confirmed they had reported criminal activity to the Garda in the 12 months to May 2004. However, 23 per cent of firms did not report it because of a lack of faith in the Garda response or a belief that the perpetrator would not be caught.

Just 8 per cent of those surveyed believed a perpetrator would be apprehended.

ISME has called for the establishment of a national forum on crime, comprised of gardaí and business representatives, "with a specific mandate to investigate the extent and impact of crime against business".

It is also urging mandatory sentencing for those committing crimes against businesses.

The report also urges the recruitment of the 2,000 extra gardaí promised by the Government and grants for businesses to install security systems in an effort to prevent crime.