(Section 1)

INTRODUCTION

i. Background

The discourse on blue collar crime in the Caribbean has been centrally concerned association

with economic deprivation and various forms of social disadvantage. It is widely believed that

poverty has some impact on crime, at least some types of crime. Some empirical studies have

found strong association between levels of immiseration, which includes unemployment and

some types of violent and property crimes including robbery, burglary and larceny.

Over the past few years there has been an increase in blue collar crime in our society. Many

newspaper articles can support this as they are filled with articles on crime of every kind being

committed daily.

Crime is a major part of every society. Its costs and effects touch just about everyone to some

degree. The types of costs and effects are widely varied. In addition, some costs are short-term

while others last a lifetime. Of course the ultimate cost is loss of life. Other costs to victims can

include medical costs, property losses, and loss of income.

Losses to both victims and non-victims can also come in the form of increased security expenses

including security alarms for homes and cars, and maintaining guard dogs. Other types of

expenses can include a victim or person fearful of crime moving to a new neighborhood, funeral

expenses, legal fees, and loss of school days.

Some problems to crime are less tangible like pain and suffering, and a lower quality of life.

There are also the traumatic impacts on friends and the disruption of family. Behavior can be

1|Page
forever changed and shaped by crime, whether it is weighing the risks of going to certain places

or even the fear of making new friends.

ii. Statement of Problem

How has blue collar crime affected business life on High Street, San-Fernando (H.S.S.F)?

iii. Sub-Question

• How has blue collar crime affected the behavior of businessmen on High Street San-

Fernando?

• What are the factors accounting for the level of business conducted on high street San-

Fernando?

• To what extent has blue collar crime impacted on the daily transactions of businesses on

High Street San-Fernando?

i. Delimitations of study

2|Page
This research project will only cover blue collar crimes; reason why this aspect of crime was

focused on is because the businesses of H.S.S.F are mainly affected by blue collar crime. The

group targeted will be the business owners and employees and street vendors because they are

the work force on H.S.S.F and they would have a better view of the crime situation. The age

group would vary because the study is more focused on the length of time they have worked on

H.S.S.F which would be greater than four years. The reason for this is due the fact that they

would have experienced H.S.S.F to the fullest. The region of study is limited to H.S.S.F; this is

where most time is spent during the year

ii. Purpose of research

Crime has affected the business life of people working on High Street San-Fernando.By

conducting this research project I aim to discover, the effects of blue collar crime on the business

life of Street San-Fernando and to determine what factor account for blue collar crime. This

would help educated the public and myself, so that we would have a better understanding of

blue collar crime. From this I hope to enlighten the businesses of High Street San-Fernando,

measures should be taken to help reduce crimes against their business.

iii. Operational Definitions

A. Blue collar crime- this entails crimes committed to persons and property. These crimes

include assault, vandalism, shoplifting, burglary, murder, rape, kidnapping. It is

3|Page
 considered as, a crime which is committed to intentionally cause harm to human life and

damage to property.

B. Business life-

1. Daily interactions that are conducted by business owners with other businesses,

customers and employees

2. The behavior of business men in relation to criminal activity

3. Level of business/ number of transactions conducted by business men.(example buying

and selling of goods and services)

A. Behavior of businessmen- this entails how businessmen respond to the problems

which they encounter. Whether they response is positive or negative when a crime has

been committed against them

B. Work force- The people who help run the business of H.S.S.F these include managers,

vendors and employees

C. Impact- When businessmen respond to criminal acts committed against them, the

method used affects to overcome the situation either positively or negatively.

(Section 2)

Literature review
According to research conducted Small Business Project’s (SBP’s) (July, 2008), on the

businesses operating in five industrial sectors (retail, personal and professional services, etc)

4|Page
which contributes to economic growth and supplements job creation. The findings of the survey

showed a clear indication that there were direct and indirect costs to crime, along with

psychological impacts of crime on businesses.

The direct costs are made up of the value of money or goods stolen and/or the cost of damage to

property and goods. Indirect costs include the cost of the disruption to business/lost of work

hours due to staff time off from work, loss of necessary equipment or temporary closure of the

business, medical expenses, loss of staff, and increased insurance premiums. The survey carried

out asked businesses to estimate both their direct and indirect losses to incidents of crime it

showed that losses approximated fifteen thousand dollars per incident. (S.B.P, 2008 pg 9.)

In a crime-ridden society, the impact of crime on individuals is cumulative. The survey also

showed that business owners are vulnerable to crime both at work and in their personal capacity.

Almost a quarter of respondents (100 individuals) had experienced an incident of crime in their

personal capacity during the past twelve months, while several had experienced multiple

incidents. A third of these respondents’ businesses had been broken into, and a quarter had been

victims of an armed robbery at their business. Just over half of these respondents said that their

personal experience of crime had impacted on their ability or motivation to run their business;

while just under half reported that crime experienced in their personal capacity had impacted on

the financial viability of their business.

Along with financial lost there were also psychological effects upon exposure to crime, at work

or at home, was evident among a significant proportion of the sample, particularly those who had

experienced more serious incidents such as robbery and burglary. Depression and/or a lack of

motivation at work, psychological trauma was particularly evident among business owners

operating in high crime areas. These psychological effects were of course not limited to business

5|Page
owners themselves. Just under a quarter of respondents reported that their staff had experienced

difficulty returning to work, as well as reduced productivity and effectiveness following

exposure to crime.

Caricom Regional Task Force conducted a report for the honorable Patrick manning on crime

and security (19th JUNE, 2002.). In this report it showed that the membership of the Task Force

on Crime tended to attribute the crime problem to the following factors poverty, unemployment,

social marginalization and inequality. A majority of the criminal acts being committed fitted in

either one of the groups.

Kris Rasmussen, Daniel Odei Tetteh (July 24, 2007) a case study was carried out and based on

the results of the statistical analysis that has been performed increases in inflation appear to have

an adverse effect on GDP. Therefore it can be concluded that high inflation has an adverse effect

on business. This study showed that crime affected contributed to high inflation, due to more

money had to be spend to make for loses made when criminal acts are committed against

businesses because more money had to be spent this caused a rise in price of goods and services.

This may cause some businesses to fail due to they are not able to cope with effected of crime.

University of Central Lancashire did a report for the businessmen of Lancashire (October 31th,

2008) The report determined that the solution to crime are to Develop accredited courses for

businesses and increase the knowledge and understanding of crime prevention techniques,

including designing out crime. This would grant businesses a better understanding of crime and

reduce the probability of being a victim to crime. Along with knowledge, promoting appropriate,

6|Page
realistic and cost effective security methods for businesses and the community could help

improve the safety and security of the region's businesses and industrial estates.

(Section 3)

Data Collection Sources

In order to collect data for the research, researcher decided to use quantitative data collection

methods. The quantitative data was collected using the primary research method of

questionnaires, which was administered to the citizens of High Street San-Fernando (H.S.S.F)

February 23rd, 2010.

7|Page
The questionnaire was selected as being the most appropriate technique for data collection, since

most workers were familiar with its use. The questionnaire was time effective and not very

costly. The questionnaire contained both open ended and close questions. This format of

acquiring information is useful since it produces results mainly in the form of statistics, which

can be modified to produce graphs, charts and tables. The questionnaire was administered to 75

workers on H.S.S.F because data collected is sufficient enough to draw conclusions and

information collected can easily represented graphically.

Businessmen, employees and vendors where chosen as sources of data because they were spent

most of their time on H.S.S.F, they would have had first had experiences are crime and would be

able to provide accurate data. They would also be able determine what is necessary to reduce the

effects of crime.

The data sources contributed to a better understanding of the research problem because it gave an

insight of the experiences and problem worker of H.S.S.F face every day.

(Section 4)

Presentation of Findings

8|Page
(Section 5)

Interpretation of data
Figure 1 shows various types of blue collar crime which affected the business life which are

assault, vandalism, shoplifting, burglary, murders, holdups, kidnappings and other blue collar

crimes. The results showed majority of the businesses were affected by vandalism, shoplifting

and burglary 19%, 23% and 25% respectively. Which consisted of 60 persons, this indicated

crimes are committed more against their business rather that to customers.

Figure 2 shows the economical effects of blue collar crime. Businesses were negatively affected

28% had drop in sales, this therefore caused business allowance to be less, 28% had shorter

working hours causing employees pay to decrease and 32% of the businesses had increased

expenditure . This would affect daily transaction because businesses now had to determine

different ways to run their business with less money and workers.

Figure 3 show how the internal running of businesses has been affected, the results indicates due

to crime, business men were unable to pay workers properly therefore this lead to 46.8% of the

businesses had wage cut which was 35 businesses, 32.5% had shorter working hours and

11.70% had staff layoffs. Only a small fraction of the businesses had longer working hours and

no effect on their business. This occurred because businesses had to make up for financial losses.
9|Page
Figure 4 show the psychological effects associated with blue collar crime. Results indicated that

business owners and employees both experienced trauma, withdrawal and depression. This

would affect business life because businessmen would not be able to carry out daily activities

efficiently. Daily transaction would be hampered due to unwillingness to follow proper work

procedures causing either further losses or business to fall.

Figure 5 shows measures taken to solve the crime situation, results show 43.6% of the businesses

hired more security, 15.4% installed more cameras and 11.5% had purchased alarm system.

Some businesses have chosen the more direct approach 15.4% which were 12 businesses

purchased firearms. None of the businesses had changed their overtime hours. These measures

were taken by businessmen to help reduce the possibility of being a victim of crime.

Figure 6 shows businesses’ solution to blue collar crime. The result indicated that 42.61% of the

worker of H.S.S.F wanted stricter punishment for criminal acts, 30.43% wanted greater police

presence was necessary to curb the crime situation. 32% did not believe that allowing owners to

carry firearm is a solution to curbing crime situation. This may be due to the fact that it might

cause more harm because when criminal obtain these weapons after robbing the business it

would cause an increase in the number of arms on the streets,

Figure 7 shows what businessmen had chosen for their future business plans. 41.9% of the

businesses prefer to stay and fight which were 46 persons because they have either nowhere else

to go or they cannot afford to migrate. 21% choose to migrate and 6.5% wanted move to another

10 | P a g e
location because they can handle the crime situation they prefer to take their chances somewhere

else.

(Section 6)

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
From the questionnaires I handed out to the business owners and employees of High Street San-

Fernando (H.S.S.F), it was found that crime had adversely affected the business life of people in

H.S.S.F directly, indirectly and psychologically. Directly businesses have had large financial

losses due to increasing crime also due of this it has affected business indirectly. Some business

have had to cut down on staff, others have had wage cuts. Due to this unemployment has

increased in H.S.S.F. Many people suffered from psychological effects after experiencing a

criminal act, they experienced withdrawal, trauma and depression.

These results are similar to the research done. Research showed research conducted by Small

Business Project’s (SBP’s) (July, 2008) that there are direct, indirect and psychological problems

associated with crime. The research indicated that crime has caused business to experience large

financial losses due to business have to replace damage or stolen goods it also showed that

unemployment has increased due to the increasing crime levels.

Information gathered stated that losses business experience cause an increase in cost of goods

and services and this causes inflation rate to increase, due to this GDP is adversely affected

causing money spent and earned to be affects. The results showed that when the criminal acts

against business increases businesses increase security and rise cost of products and services.
11 | P a g e
This causes strain on the economy because more money must now be spent to acquire good and

services, it also showed that employment decreases due to businesses not being able to sustain

their business.

The businesses’ solution to crime is similar but slightly different from the University of Central

Lancashire. (October 31th, 2008), Majority of the business determined stricter punishment would

help significantly reduce crime but from research education is the key to reducing the crime

situation. The businesses wanted stricter punishment because they believed that criminal would

not want to commit if the punishment is too severe for small crimes. The SBC research showed

that education is the key to curbing crime because by educating the businessmen and police

officers so they would be able to have a better understanding of the criminal. The only similarity

is security because both believe promotion of appropriate, realistic and cost effective security

methods for businesses and the community could help improve the safety and security of the

regions businesses and industrial estates.

12 | P a g e
(Section 7)

CONCLUSION:
Based on the results obtained from my research, it can be concluded that the crime has adversely

affected the business life in our country. It has impacted the businesses physically, mentally and

financially. Business must do what is necessary to curb reduce the effects of crime on business

life. Education is the key reducing effects of crime by education the businessmen, employees

and vendors they would have a better understanding of what must be done to return our country

to its’ glory day when we could walk along the street peacefully without worrying about crime.

LIMITATIONS:

Limitations of the research conducted are:

• Although sufficient information was available not enough time was allocated in the

review of all the information

• Interview with the police officer was not possible because the police officer was busy

with his duties.

• Limited access to some critical information such as past statistical information of crime

in Trinidad due to Trinidad Newsday’s archives not dating back far enough.

13 | P a g e
RECOMMENDATIONS:
For future research on this topic, a recommendation would be to expand the area under study so

that the research could be done on a wider scale and on international countries and the Caribbean

islands. Another recommendation could be interviewing a police officer this would allow

qualitative data to be collected. Necessary action must be taken to reduce this serious problem,

education and implementation the necessary requirements must be taken to reduce the effects of

crime.

Bibliography
14 | P a g e
Crime and society by The Honorable Patrick Manning Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
on 19th JUNE, 2002

Harriott, A (2002) Crime Trends in the Caribbean. {Online}.Available:

http://www.unodc.org/pdf/barbados/caribbean_report_crime-trends.pdf .

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Caribbean Region of the World Bank
(March, 2007) Crime, Violence, and Development: Trends, Costs, and Policy Options in the
Caribbean. {Online}. Available: http://www.unodc.org/pdf/research/Cr_and_Vio_Car_E.pdf.

University of Central Lancashire (October 31th, 2008).Crime Solutions 6th Call. {Online}.
Available: http://www.crimesolutions.net/news.asp?size= (November 19th 2009)

Kris Rasmussen, and Daniel Odei Tetteh. (July 24th 2007).The Factors Affecting Inflation
{Online}. Available: http://www.freeonlineresearchpapers.com/factors-of-inflation (January
22nd 2010)

15 | P a g e