Business crime rates fall in Scotland

CRIMES against Scottish businesses have fallen by up to two-thirds in some parts of the country, according to a leading insurer.

AXA's annual claims data showed 31 per cent decrease. Picture: AFP

AXA said its annual claims data showed a 31 per cent decrease in all types of business crime across the UK, with a drop of as much as 63 per cent in some parts of Scotland.

The highest rate of crime claims was recorded in London’s WC postcode district, where businesses have a one in three chance of making a claim.

Kilmarnock was among the areas seeing the most dramatic improvement in the UK, with claims dropping 63 per in a year.

However, Paisley moved ahead of Edinburgh in Glasgow based on the number of claims.

Darrell Sansom, managing director at AXA Business Insurance, said: “Our figures suggest that the average business is now at lower risk of getting a brick through the window, being burnt to the ground by hooligans or facing a break-in.

“That’s great news, but we need to remember what it means if you are the one in twenty that does suffer a crime.”