CRIME against small businesses in York and North Yorkshire is among the worst in the country.

That is the assertion of Len Cruddas, chief executive of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, who has called on the Home Office to "record statistics and set targets".

Mr Cruddas, whose chamber represents about 1,500 direct and affiliated ventures, said: "Unless this is done, offences against businesses will continue to be regarded as a sort of second-class crime, even though it has a very personal affect on managers and staff."

His plea comes as a survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows that crime against small enterprises in Yorkshire is the worst in the UK.

The survey report, titled Cracking Business Crime, accuses the Government of failing to give crime against businesses the priority it deserves.

It shows the region having the highest levels of burglary, graffiti, vehicle theft and vehicle damage in the country.

Yorkshire's small businesses are among the most likely in the UK to be victims of vandalism, arson, robbery, shoplifting, employee theft, employee fraud and cheque fraud.

According to the report, based on responses from more than 18,000 business owners, the cost of crime is also greater for business in Yorkshire and Humberside than anywhere else.

Mr Cruddas said if the high figures for urban areas like Leeds, Hull and Bradford were taken out of the equation, then York and North Yorkshire would still be "in the top quartile" of crimes against small businesses in the country.

He also agreed with Chris Glen, the FSB's Yorkshire and Humber policy chairman in his attack on the Home Office.

Mr Glen said: "There are twice as many crimes against businesses as crimes against households, but business crime comes low on the list of Home Office priorities. The Government has set 13 targets for the police and none of them feature business.

"Businesses can help themselves by reporting crime more often so that the police can build up a more accurate picture. But ultimately ministers must recognise that crime has a devastating impact on small firms generating fear in the workplace, alienating customers, and resulting in a negative knock-on affect in the wider community."

The Home Office insisted today it takes crimes against business "very seriously", and a key part of its strategy was to encourage businesses to work in close partnership with police and local authorities.

A spokesman said: "As well as working with the business community to gauge concern about crime, the regional business crime adviser in the government office for Yorkshire and The Humber is working with crime and disorder reduction partnerships to try and ensure it is part of their local strategies for action over the next three years."

Updated: 09:45 Tuesday, August 09, 2005