Criminals are costing Britain £250bn a year

Call for more jail cells and tougher sentences to end scourge

- Michael Knowles

CRIME costs Britain a staggering £250billion every year, a scathing report has revealed.

Ministers were last night warned a “permissive approach” was hammering the public finances, hitting businesses and changing society.

The Policy Exchange think tank said the UK spends around £170billion dealing with offences, with firms suffering a £38billion hit, the public sector a £31billion bill, and the cost to individuals totalling up to £63billion.

But once changes in behaviour are included, for example because people are too scared to go out, the bill could soar to £250billion.