For the first time, police forces across the North West Region are teaming up and working alongside the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) to launch a major initiative aimed at cracking down on Cash-in-Transit (CiT) robberies. Officers from Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and North Wales Police will be looking to safeguard security vehicles during delivery and pick-up times by using both high visibility and covert patrols on the ground and in the air.
The neighbouring forces will encourage the sharing of intelligence between officers, and provide rapid assistance for cross-border deliveries. In practice, police patrols – including firearms officers, CCTV vehicles and regular beat patrol cars – will escort the BSIA member company security vehicles as the security officers within carry out their duties.
This latest scheme follows hot-on-the-heels of ‘Operation Safer Cash’ (News Update, SMT, October 2003, p7) in which the West Midlands Police have teamed up with the BSIA in a ‘mirror’ initiative.
