Leaders: Crash cash

May 28 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD has been ranked the ninth worst place in the country for dodgy car insurance claims.

According to the Insurance Fraud Bureau, it also has the fifth highest rate of ‘crash for cash’ incidents, where fraudsters perform dangerous car manoeuvres to cause innocent drivers to collide with them.

They then make insurance claims for fictitious injuries. It is thought the cash made goes towards organised crime, like drug trafficking.

So, why is Huddersfield a hot spot for such crimes? One theory is that our town’s good motorway links make it easy for crooks who don’t wish to commit crime on their doorstep to do it here, then make a quick getaway.

It is to be hoped police are taking action over this problem because it is a serious issue.

Not only does it push up insurance premiums for honest policy holders by an average of £40 a year, but it puts innocent drivers’ lives at risk.