Prostitute murder inquiry costs top £5m

THE cost of the Ipswich prostitute murder inquiry has topped £5 million (€7.4m) in its first month and it could become the most expensive investigation Britain has ever seen, police said yesterday.

Officers said the full cost of the probe would not be known for many months.

Hundreds of officers from more than 30 forces were called in to help Suffolk detectives after five women were found dead near villages south of Ipswich during a 10-day period in December. Large amounts of investigative work are continuing.

“I don’t think it’s any secret that so far the figure is about £5 million,” a spokeswoman for Suffolk police said.

The Home Office is helping Suffolk police authority fund the investigation to ensure that the county’s policing budget is not drained. The spokeswoman said the force was in regular contact with Home Office officials.

Steve Wright, 48, of Ipswich, has been charged with the murders of prostitutes Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29.

He is being held in custody at Belmarsh prison, south London, and is next due to appear before Ipswich Crown Court in May. He has entered no plea to the charges.

Wright’s father Conrad, who is in his 70s, said he did not think that his son was capable of committing such crimes. “I personally don’t think they’ve got the right man,” said Mr Wright.