Small Business Considerations in Collaborating upon Crime Management

Abstract

This paper summarises research on the impacts of crime on small businesses in the UK and the role of management action. It discusses the factors that promote and impede collaborative learning of small businesses in crime management.

A study which examined the experiences of crime of 23 UK inner-city small business owner-managers is reported. They feel that both the incidence and the impact of crime are controllable personally. The nature of discourse amongst owner-managers is, however, not sufficiently sustained, open, creative, planned or focused to promote effective collaborative crime management efforts.

The potential of facilitated network groups of small businesses that build upon other inter-firm linkages to develop the crime management practices of small firms is discussed.