The BauWatch Crime Report 2026 shows more than a third (38.7 per cent) of construction site workers have suffered financial losses due to crime, up from 33 per cent last year and nearly 15 percentage points above the EU average.
Job losses linked to criminal incidents have also increased significantly to 27.7 per cent, up from 22.8 per cent in 2025, in a sector the Office for National Statistics (ONS) says employs more than 2.1 million people.
Despite this, 76 per cent of respondents admitted budget pressures had led to corners being cut on site security, with the use of fixed CCTV systems down 7.2 per cent and CCTV towers down 6.8 per cent year-on-year.
The human cost of crime and security cuts were two of six key trends identified by the report commissioned by BauWatch. It shows crime is not necessarily becoming more widespread in the UK, but it is becoming more severe, more targeted and more disruptive.
Other key findings highlighted by the report included:
- A drop in thefts of traditional high-value materials such as copper and timber being offset by a sharp rise in the theft of more mobile assets, as criminals adapt by targeting items that are easier to access, transport and resell
- UK tool theft increasing to 57 per cent, the highest level across all surveyed markets and more than 10 percentage points above the European average
- Nearly three quarters of respondents (71.3 per cent) reporting that thefts occur more frequently during autumn and winter
- The UK becoming a hotspot for more advanced forms of digital crime – with cloning or hacking of digital access credentials (23.1 per cent) and the use of drones for surveillance (24.4 per cent) both above the European benchmark
- A growing impact on project continuity and supply chain stability, with 26.4 per cent of projects needing subcontractor replacement due to crime-related scheduling issues – up from 22.6 per cent in 2025
BauWatch say the results present a number of challenges for the industry, including recognising security as a critical workforce issue which protects people as well as assets. Mim Mogul, BauWatch UK&I managing director, said: “For construction companies in the United Kingdom, security is no longer a secondary operational issue. It is becoming a central factor influencing project performance, workforce stability and financial outcomes. Addressing these challenges requires a coordinated and forward-looking approach. Companies that rely on reactive or fragmented approaches risk falling behind.”
BauWatch recommends six practical tips for greater construction site security – prioritising visible deterrents; integrating security planning early; strengthening coordination; raising security awareness; adapting security measures and focusing on prevention.
