Under the plan, which was announced recently by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the Rt Hon Jack Straw, offenders could be forced to return to the scene of a crime in order to apologise and pay any damages. While the FPB welcomes these measures, it believes more should be done to prevent business crime.

"Many firms are faced with the costs incurred by repeated crimes against their premises. This significantly impacts on growth and, in many cases, their ability to survive," said the FPB's Chief Executive, Phil Orford. "The knock-on effect for local economies, in terms of inward investment, employment and community confidence, can also be devastating. We need a more visible, proactive police presence. There must also be a change in the culture of not reporting crimes, so that the perpetrators stand a greater chance of being caught and are prevented from re-offending."

Home Office statistics from 2000 estimate the total cost of crime in the UK is £59.9 billion per annum, of which 20% is business-related.

Research shows that many businesses are not reporting crime because of the bureaucratic process reporting it to the authorities. In addition, they lack the faith that offenders will be brought to justice. A survey carried out by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) into business crime during 2006 and 2007 found that 36% of respondents lack confidence in police responses, with 29% indicating that reporting crime is too time consuming.

FPB member Samuel Blacklock has owned Blacklock Carpets, which is based in Beeston, Nottingham, for 26 years. He estimates that thieves target his shop on average four times per year.

"In one incident, just before Christmas, they came in broad daylight wearing long trench coats and made off with about £600 worth of rugs," he said. "The police station is about 400 yards away and we phoned to say they could be caught, as they were driving right past."

Mr Blacklock said he resented paying more in business rates in exchange for a reduced police presence, adding: "We've been targeted repeatedly, and on occasions our neighbours or members of the public – not the police – have intervened. There have also been incidents of vandalism, and all of this is a direct result of the failure of the local police service."