A Confederation of British Industry (CBI) poll conducted by Mori, demonstrates the level of concern throughout the UK business community with regard to a perceived terrorist threat.

Of the 100 firms polled, 97 per cent regard terrorism as a matter of great or significant concern, and a further quarter feel the government is insufficiently open about the scale of the threat.

The types of security incident causing most anxiety are terrorist action, environmental terrorism and computer hacking. Some of the larger companies also emphasise the damage done and threat posed by animal rights extremists.

Evidence that companies are taking the risks more seriously is provided by the marked increase in investment in security throughout UK businesses. Typically, companies have spent over £1 million on security this year, significantly more than five years ago. Furthermore, two thirds of companies now employ a chief security officer, one in five of whom sit on the board.

CBI Director-General, Digby Jones, comments:

“Business Britain understands the meaning of risk and is working hard to calibrate the additional risks posed by security. But the risk assessment process in a business would be much improved if there was a greater transparency from government and other key agencies. Business needs to have more confidence that it is getting contingency planning right.”