West Yorkshire Police (Tackling Cash in Transit Robbery)
Some practical guidelines adopted by West Yorkshire Police to combat and reduce
cash in transit (CIT) and other serious robberies.
Cash in Transit (CIT) Robbery
This includes attacks on cash in transit security vehicles, cash deliveries, attacks
on Automatic Telling Machines (ATM’s – Cash Point Machines), Post Offices, Banks and
Building Societies.
In 1998/1999 there were 142 offences in this category. Many of those committing
this type of offence carried firearms and/or other weapons.
Enforcement/Disruption
The Force Major Crime Unit (MCU) has a Force wide responsibility in respect of
cash in transit robbery. Performance targets of the MCU include:
Reducing the number of CIT attacks and,
Arresting/disrupting the activities of individuals/criminal groups involved
in this type of crime.
Joint Policing Operations
The Force has a Robbery Investigation Strategy, which has three key elements:
Quality initial investigation by Divisional detectives.
Analysis of trends and patterns of robbery to identify linked crime series
and viable suspects.
Targeting of suspected prolific robbers by the Major Crime Unit working with
Divisional detectives and other HQ departments as appropriate.
Effective Use of Surveillance and Technical Support
The Major Crime Unit is employing specialist video evidencing experts to produce
independent high quality evidence. For example, the use of both fixed and mobile surveillance
to video the activities of targeted suspects has proved to be very effective. They
have been able to produce evidence linking them to robberies through facial and clothing
recognition.
Both audio and visual recording equipment has been used successfully to target
suspected prolific offenders.
This tactic has produced both intelligence and evidence which has enabled:
The prevention of robberies being planned by arrest or other disruptive tactics.
The gathering of evidence to assist in the arrest and prosecution for past
offences.
The identification of other suspects involved in series offences.
Targeting Known Offenders
The Major Crime Unit has successfully pursued an active robbery disruption Policy
by targeting robbery suspects involved in the commission of other types of serious
crime. This includes:
A robbery gang arrested for thefts of high powered motor vehicles which were
used in the commission of ‘ram raid’ burglaries.
Three violent robbers targeted and arrested for conspiracy to supply heroin.
The effect of this policy has contributed to a significant reduction in the number
of serious robbery offences. In 1999/2000 a reduction in CIT attacks of 39% on the
previous year was achieved
Robbery Reduction Strategies
The Force Strategy for reducing robberies includes joint working between the Major
Crime Unit, Force Intelligence, Operations Support Division, the Force Crime Reduction
Officer, the various security companies and the British Security Industry Association.
Regular meetings are held to discuss all aspects of robbery reduction including:
Hot Spot patrolling of vulnerable premises or vulnerable routes by armed response
vehicles.
Sharing of good practice in safe delivery and improvements in cash box design.
Sharing of intelligence re national trends in robberies.
Effective evidence gathering by crews.
Pro-active measures to identify suspects by the use of video equipment, smart
water, etc.
Operation Millennium
A strategy to prevent robberies over the 1999/2000 Christmas/New Year period included
the following
A dedicated team of Detectives from the Force Major Crime Unit who provided
immediate advice and assistance in the management of crime scenes
Force Intelligence Bureau worked closely with divisions to identify robbery
suspects. Divisions carry out various disruption tactics against identified targets.
This included high profile, legitimate policing tactics including stop checks, VDRS,
fixed penalty tickets, summons, removal of criminal pool vehicles, (i.e. vehicles
used by groups of criminals collectively) etc.
Vulnerable premises and potential targets for robbery were identified and subject
to high profile policing to deter criminals from committing offences.
Cash depots/centres were subject to periodic police visits. Detailed contingency
plans were devised for swift and effective police response.
Good practice guidelines were issued to ensure effective action in relation
to initial response and investigation of robbery.
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