NCJ Number
150529
Date Published
1994
Length
44 pages
Annotation
This report documents the findings of the first research to be conducted on crime in British industrial estates.
Abstract
The research was conducted in three stages. Stage 1 consisted of a detailed study of five estates. Stages two and three extended the research and were based on interviews with 585 managers on a range of estates (stratified by size, location, and region) throughout northern England. This paper summarizes the findings from the latter two stages. The study found that industrial estates have as great a variation in the crime level as residential neighborhoods; however, industrial estates with the highest crime rates have more crime than any residential area. Repeat victimization is also a characteristic of crime on industrial estates. Businesses have invested heavily in additional security precautions to protect their unit. Not all of this expenditure is cost-effective or based on known crime threats; businesses are not receiving adequately informed guidance, and companies on estates are not taking cooperative action against crime. Managers reported most crimes to the police, unless an employee was suspected; then, civil action was preferred. Police input on estates was rare, other than to respond to crime reports. The crime level on an estate was greatly influenced by its design and location. Attention to these factors could reduce the crime risk. Action plans to reduce crime on industrial estates are specified for landlords, police, business, insurance companies, and local authorities. 6 tables and 33 references