This view has been challenged in recent times with the realisation that business crimes affects individuals directly by means of violence and indirectly by lowering of morale, increase in fear of crime or loss of employment.

In 2005 Maldon District Community Safety Partnership carried out an audit of business crime in the Maldon District. The audit revealed that although crime was not a top priority local business suffered directly from theft, damage and burglary and indirectly from anti-social behaviour discouraging the public from visiting their premises.

An eight point plan was agreed between local business representatives and Maldon Community Safety Partnership to try to reduce business related crime.