§ 36. Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of the Metropolitan Police robbery squad; and how successful the squad has been in the detection of serious crime.
§ Mr. WhitelawI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the central robbery squad was established in July 1978 when officers of the Flying Squad were redeployed to assist in investigating offences committed by armed and violent robbers.
The squad has achieved some welcome successes. In the first six months of its operation 91 arrests were made for robbery, 27 for conspiracy to rob and three for murders committed in the course of robberies. Thirty-six further arrests in connection with other serious offences were made. During 1979 there have been 173 arrests for robbery and associated offences. The squad has also seized large quantities of weapons and ammunition.