The investigation into the murder of five prostitutes in Ipswich has already cost police more than £6m.

The investigation into the murder of five prostitutes in Ipswich has already cost police more than £6m.

More than 360 police officers and staff from 31 forces were initially drafted in to help police investigating the deaths of Tania Nicol, 19, Gemma Adams,25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29, in December.

Suffolk police treasurer John Grand presented the annual statement of accounts to the police authority at a meeting today and said that investigation, named Operation Sumac, had cost just under £6.2million to date.

A Home Office grant of more than £5m covered most of the expense, leaving Suffolk police with a £1m bill to cover from its reserve fund.

The murder inquiry was one of the biggest ever seen in Britain but costs have not yet exceeded the estimated £9m investigation into the murders of Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.