Police forces swoop on armed robbers

Police forces from across the North West have launched a major operation to crackdown on armed robberies in the run-up to Christmas.

The operation, code named Vanguard, aims to build on previous successes, which has seen 20 armed and dangerous offenders sentenced to more than 150 years in prison in Greater Manchester alone over the past 12 months. The number of cash-in-transit incidents also dropped by 45 percent between April 2010 and 2011 and by 376 per cent since April 2004.

Officers from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (Titan), Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and North Wales, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), SaferCash and other partners will be working together to combat cash-in-transit robberies and tackle serious and organised crime groups involved in drug trafficking, firearms, armed robberies, aggravated burglaries and other serious crimes.

The campaign will see officers using both high-visibility and covert patrols on the ground and in the air to escort security vehicles as they carry out their cash deliveries. The North West police forces will also be sharing intelligence and providing assistance for cross-border deliveries. In addition, all cash containers will include a dye, which will be released when they are opened by offenders

Detective Superintendent Williams, Greater Manchester Police’s Vanguard team, said: "The North West, and in particular Greater Manchester, has seen significant reductions in cash-in-transit robberies in recent years and our message to these armed criminals is clear - we will find you and we will make sure you spend your Christmas behind bars.

"Robberies targeting cash-in-transit vehicles, banks, post offices and commercial businesses are not victimless crimes and cause deep distress to those at the brunt of the attacks.

“Due to the successful work of Vanguard across Greater Manchester the number of CIT robberies has dramatically reduced,”

“However, there are still too many innocent victims suffering at the hands of these criminals. Without key information from the public we wouldn’t be able to remove these offenders from the street.

“Therefore, we would ask the public to be vigilant and if anyone has any information to help us catch those responsible, please call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or dial 999 in an emergency.”

Steve Hurst, head of SaferCash, said: "Cash-in-transit robberies do not only affect the security guards. They also affect their families as some victims of these often very violent attacks suffer terrible psychological effects and are unable to return to a job they once loved.

"We urge the public to help us combat these attacks by reporting any suspicious activity near to cash-in-transit vans, particularly in the busy run-up to Christmas."

BSIA's Chief Executive, James Kelly, added: "Cash-in-transit attacks, while often perceived as a business crime, are not victimless. Last year alone, more than 750 crew members were attacked while performing this essential public service, many suffering severe physical and psychological effects."