In today's (3 February) Online issue of the Daily Mail (not a newspaper normally predisposed to worry itself about Stoke Newington), we have topped one of their lists! Apparently, with our 'hugely diverse population' we are an 'up and coming area, thanks in part to regular organic farmers' market and vintage products car boot fairs' (where did they get this from?).

However, we have the 'dubious distinction' of being the country's 'worst burglary hotspot', based on asking asking three million consumers on moneysupermarket.com, with 33.6 claims per 1000 insurance enquiries. Wood Green, the next London 'hotspot' on the list, can only come 4th. These results could also mean, of course, that we have more chancers in the area than anywhere else, making less than entirely honest representations to their insurance companies.

Nevertheless, it's not particularly good news. Unfortunately, it could well have a negative impact on the pricing of local insurance policies, with quotes increasing as a result of this survey. Let's just hope that, in common with most sane people, insurance companies take what they read in the Daily Mail with a pinch of salt.

By Rab MacWilliam