Yob culture costing UK firms £9.6bn

Yob culture is a growing issue for British business, costing £9.8 billion last year alone, according to new research.

This translates to an average cost of £4,000 for every business in Britain, the study for insurer RSA found.

Troublesome behaviour included petty theft, broken windows and doors, graffiti, littering and intimidation or harassment.

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Almost one in five businesses were affected by yob culture last year, at an average cost of just over £20,000 for each affected business.

Broken doors and windows and petty theft were the most common problems.

More than a third of businesses (37 per cent) said they expected yob culture to increase this year amid the downturn.

Jon Hancock, RSA managing director, commercial, said: “The importance of businesses preparing for the risks they face and having the right level of protection in place should not be underestimated.

“UK businesses expect yob culture to cost them more this year, so I would encourage all employers to consider how they can protect themselves in order to safeguard their business.”