AN on-going murder inquiry in Bishop's Stortford has highlighted the escalating cost of major crime in Hertfordshire.

More than 60 officers remain involved in the on-going inquiry into the killing of Scott Newman, despite a major breakthrough with an arrest last week.

At last month's Hertfordshire Police Authority meeting it was revealed that countywide the major crimes division overshot its projected budget to date by more than £400,000.

Projected budget expenditure for April and May was £118,500, compared with the force's actual spending of £545,300.

Acting head of crime management Detective Superintendent Les Bolland said: 'All departments within the constabulary are allocated a budget based on the previous year's requirements.

'So far during this financial year, the constabulary has dealt with an unprecedented number of major incidents which can never be forecast. It is therefore anticipated that there will be an overspend on the major crime budget.'

Mr Bolland said a number of enquires have been on-going, including investigations into murders, rapes, serious indecent assaults and multi-million-pound frauds.

He said: 'It is impossible to determine how long an incident will last and how many officers are required to man an incident room.

'In all cases the number will be appropriate to the investigation.

'Hertfordshire Constabulary is committed to detecting crime and making our communities safer and that is a job which will not be affected by financial constraints.'