Gulf in cost of crime to residents in region

STARK differences in the cost of crime to residents in the region have been revealed in new figures. Figures from the Taxpayers' Alliance show that crime cost every resident of North Yorkshire £130 last year. The total is the lowest for any police force area in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. By contrast, residents in the Cleveland Police area faced a yearly cost of £362. The figure is the sixth worst of all 39 force areas surveyed. Only residents of cities such as London, Manchester and Nottingham faced a higher cost. Crime cost residents of County Durham £272 each, the 17th highest in the survey and below the national average of £275. The campaign group compared data from each police force with Home Office estimates of the cost of crime to produce a picture of the impact of recorded crime. Mark Wallace, of the... [read full story]