20/08/2008

Multiple Cash Raid Accused Remanded

After law enforcement agencies in Northern Ireland announced they had joined forces to help fight security van robberies earlier this year, a man accused of being a serial offender has been in court accused of carrying out three cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies - and escaping police custody.

Just months after NI's Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) Chairman Paul Goggins said that CIT robberies had been nearly halved, Michael Nolan, 31, of no fixed address, has faced a series of robbery charges.

He was also accused of attempted hijacking, driving dangerously, making threats to kill and assaulting police.

Two of the robberies in which he is alleged to have been involved took place on the same day in January.

One involved the theft of £40,000 and the other a cash box containing more than £15,000.

The third robbery he was charged with was last June. It is alleged a gun and a knife were used in all three raids.

Mr Nolan's alleged escape from police custody was in the Markets area of south Belfast last month.

He has been remanded in custody for a month at Belfast Magistrates Court.

The OCTF local efforts to tackle the menace of cash-in-transit robbery have paid dividends.

Paul Goggins said: "The OCTF will continue to take the fight against organised crime in NI to the doorsteps of criminals.

"Where we can, we will bring those in organised crime before the courts.

At the same time, figures released by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) showed a 28% drop in cash-in-transit attacks since the implementation of a proactive partnership initiative between the police, the GMB trade union, and the banking, retail and security industries, which has been strongly supported by government ministers.

In Northern Ireland, the number of such CIT attacks fell dramatically last year, when compared with the same period in 2006, down from 47 to 20, a fall of 27 overall.

The Charter to tackle the menace of cash-in-transit robbery was signed at the Home Office in May 2007 which led to a Cash-in-Transit Action Plan being published in June.

See: Crime Busters Successful

(BMcC/KMcA)

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