Recommendations to authorities for dealing with crimes against businesses were published today by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The FSB estimates that one-fifth of all crimes in Britain are carried out against businesses and are often not reported because employers do not expect the crime to be solved.

In its action plan, the organisation recommends that police advise companies on how to protect themselves against crime and "engage with businesses proactively through face to face contact".

Another proposal is that the Home Office crack down on shoplifters by making sure they pay fines levied against them, as well as maintaining the threat of prison for repeat offenders.

David Croucher, FSB home affairs chairman, said: "Crime against businesses makes up at least 20 per cent of all crimes but the authorities do not put the same priority on them as they do on domestic crime.

"Businesses are the victims of the forgotten fifth of crime in the UK."

The new recommendations are based on the results of FSB's "Lifting the Barriers to Growth" survey, which received over 19,000 responses.