Illegality continues to be one of the main problems of Italian traders. Witness the investigation into crime affecting businesses in the commerce, tourism, services and transport sectors carried out by Confcommercio, with the support of GfK Eurisko as part of the Legality Day.
The numbers from the analysis are not reassuring: in 2016, one entrepreneur out of ten received threats or intimidation for extortion purposes. The figure is up by one percentage point compared to 2015. Not only that: one entrepreneur out of seven declared that they know other companies that have been subjected to threats (+2 percentage points compared to 2015).
Taking into consideration the indirect and direct experience witnessed by the interested parties, the overall share of companies involved (16%) has not changed compared to 2015. In the south and on the islands, this percentage rises to 38%. Both direct and indirect experience are accentuated in the South, particularly in large urban centres.
The phenomena most perceived to be on the increase are: illegal activity (on the increase for 51% of companies), theft (47%), counterfeiting (44%). Robberies follow (37%).
On the other hand, the growth of criminal behaviors typically linked to organized crime such as usury (16%) and extortion (14%) was more contained.
The financial repercussion deriving from the above data is also important. On the basis of what was stated by the president Carlo Sangalli, "the sector of commerce and public establishments this year loses 26,5 billion euros in turnover and has to give up 180 regular jobs" precisely because of the crime phenomena that are forced to suffer.
It should also be noted that four out of five entrepreneurs have adopted at least one security measure to protect themselves from crime.
