IN response to Richard Webster's request for information about the £15,000 that went missing from the council's cashiers (Letters, October 10), I can provide the following update.

The police and the auditors have recently completed their investigations into the events surrounding the money going missing. It was stolen, but it has not been possible to identify the culprit.

We are taking a range of steps to further improve security including improved CCTV coverage and changes to cash handling procedures. The stolen money is covered by insurance so there will be no cost to the council tax payer.

While the theft of £15,000 is a serious matter it should be viewed in the context that the council's cashiers handle more than £16 million per year in cash and considerably more in cheques. This was the first significant theft since I joined the council in 1996.

Simon Wiles,

Director of resources,

City of York Council,

Library Square, York.

Updated: 09:15 Tuesday, October 18, 2005