Annual crime cost tops £370

Crime in Greater Manchester is costing every resident almost £400 a year, a new report says.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance says crime costs £15 billion a year, nationally, or £275 each. But it appears that people in Greater Manchester are worse off, with their bill for crime reaching £372.71.

The researchers used Freedom of Information laws to compare the number of different crimes in each police force area in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with Home Office estimates of the cost of each type of crime.

Nottingham suffers the highest cost of crime at £389.94 per head. The lowest amount was £130 per person in North Yorkshire.

Assistant Chief Constable Justine Curran of Greater Manchester Police said: “What matters to people in Greater Manchester is results, and in our area crime is decreasing, the number of police officers is increasing and we are working more efficiently and effectively with partners and communities.”

Matthew Sinclair of the Taxpayers’ Alliance said: “The problem is that politicians insist on micro-managing the police.

“If the Government gives people the information and the power to tailor their police force to their needs, we will be able to drive down crime levels.”