Victimization of companies in the country drops to 21% Peru

The business victimization rate has decreased in the country: two out of ten businessmen (21.3%) declared having been victims of a criminal act, according to the results of the 2016 National Business Survey, which was carried out between last November and January of this year.

This figure represents a decrease of 7 percentage points compared to the rate registered in 2015 (28.9%). The survey – to which El Comercio agreed and which was carried out by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) and the Ministry of Production (Produce) – also shows a decrease in crime incidence according to economic activity.

Compared to 2015, business victimization decreased by up to 24.3 percentage points in the communications sector. They are followed by the items of private education (-22.3 points), and transportation and storage (-18.1 points). It only increased in the financial activities (9.8 percentage points) and fisheries (0.7 points) sectors.

—Less extortion—

Extortions against businessmen have also decreased: one in ten businessmen (9.1%) indicated that he was a victim of this crime, according to the INEI and Produce survey. In other words, the figure decreased by six percentage points compared to 2015 (15.0%).

The trade item in which there was a greater decrease in extortion is that of construction (-16.8 percentage points compared to 2015). This is followed by financial activities (-10.9 points) and artistic and entertainment activities (-10.2 points).

However, this type of crime increased in other business sectors. For example, in fishing (increased by 14.5 percentage points compared to 2015), in the exploitation of mines and quarries (13, 3 points), and in real estate activities (4.7 points).

At the regional level, the extortion rate increased considerably in Callao (from 4.2% in 2015 to 29.6% in 2016) and Ica (from 13.6% to 29%). It did decrease on the north coast of the country: La Libertad (from 55.8% to 38.6%), Tumbes (from 42% to 20%), Piura (from 41.9% to 13.6%) and Lambayeque (from 28.4% to 11.5%).

-Pending tasks-

For General Luis Montoya, former director of the National Police, the statistics are positive and show the work of law enforcement to protect the business sector. However, he added that there are still “pending tasks” to reduce the victimization of national companies.

“The increase in the incidence of crime in sectors such as the fishing industry reveals that more police intelligence work and better coordination with businessmen is required. For example, in the case of extortions in civil construction, the police worked hand in hand with Capeco [Cámara Peruana de la Construcción] to reduce them. And it was achieved, ”he said.

The Ministry of the Interior (Mininter) specified that goals have been established to decrease the victimization rate of businessmen, such as the execution of 100 mega-operations against organized crime in the country until December.

The Mininter also indicated that it seeks to incorporate more police assistants (the first 100 would be integrated in July) and include more than 2,000 criminals in the Rewards Program.