Australian Police

Australian Police

The Thin Blue Line – Australian Police

The Armed Hold Up Squad

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The first armed bank robbery in Australia occurred at Carcoar N.S.W. in 1863 when the Commercial Bank was held up by Ben Hall and his bushrangers who stole a large sum of money. Following that event and the formation of the New South Wales Police Force as such, the Armed Hold Up Squad, as it was known, came into being in 1966 to combat the upsurge in armed robberies where firearms were used. Since then increases in this type of crime have steadily grown year by year. In the late 1970’s the Armed Hold Up Squad consisted of 30 units and the Officer in Charge was a Detective Inspector who was appointed on 1st December, 1978. The remainder of the staff consisted of experienced N. C. O.’s and Detective Senior Constables. All the members were attached to the Special Weapons & Operations Squad consequently being experienced in the use of the weaponry available to that Squad.

Records of all armed robberies reported in New South Wales were maintained within this office for ready use by Squad members or other members of the Force making inquires relative to this type of offence. The Squad worked in close liaison with personnel from other Police forces and Security Officers of the various established Banks and large money carrying organisations.

The Squad was organised to take necessary action where it was considered armed hold ups have occurred and to assist in investigations relative to this type of crime.

8 thoughts on “The Armed Hold Up Squad

  • Would hope the first bank robbery at Carcoar wasn’t the catalyst to establish the Armed Hold Up Squad, as it wasn’t formed for almost 100 years later! Incredible too how many armed hold ups were carried out each year. I used to work at State Bank NSW in Kings Cross for a couple of years and fortunately never got hit. Maybe because Darlo Police Station was nearby with the likes of Roger the Dodger keeping an eye on trouble (an infamous former breaker of course).

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  • Arnie was the Detective Inspector in charge of the South West Region Armed Hold Up Squad when I started there in 1992. He retired in about 1995 and practiced Law. Sadly he passed away around 1998. He was an extremely knowledgeable and experienced Detective and one of the best there was at telling war stories. A great boss and an all round good bloke.

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  • Kevin Parsons is still alive, boss of the old armed hold up squad. He still currently gives talks to the public at various locations about his job and role there. He must be in his mid 80’s now. 85? He has a son who was an ex copper to I think. I worked with his niece and at Cronulla, all of them out of the cops now.

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  • Meredith Cox

    Does anyone remember or know a member of the armed hold up squad by the name of Detective Peter Ryan??

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