The government has proposed new measures to give businesses the opportunity to better highlight the impact of crime.
Currently under consultation, the new Victims Code will include measures to allow all businesses to tell courts how a crime has affected them through an impact statement, which will in effect be a Victim Personal Statement for businesses.
The impact statement will detail how a crime has affected the business in any way, financially or otherwise. Making an impact statement for the business will not prevent an individual employee from making a separate Victim Personal Statement for the same incident.
Victims’ minister Helen Grant included the provisions for businesses in order to “highlight the wider economic and financial impacts that crime can have on a community”.
The proposed new Victims Code was welcomed by the Association of Convenience Stores. Chief executive James Lowman said: “The impact of crime on convenience stores and their staff cannot be underestimated. In 2012, burglaries and robberies cost retailers in excess of £20m and caused untold emotional harm to employees.
“We are pleased that the Ministry of Justice has listened to our concerns and amended the Victims Code to better reflect the concerns of businesses. The proposed business impact statement will allow retailers to reflect the long term impact on their businesses financially, operationally and emotionally for their staff.”
The consultation is open until May 10, 2013 and submissions can be made here.
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