RECOGNIZING THAT THE ABILITY OF THE POLICE TO PROTECT THE BANKS IS A KEY TEST OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE POLICE, THE AUTHORS EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT THE POLICE IN BRITAIN WERE INEFFECTIVE BETWEEN 1968 AND 1972. THE ANNUAL RATE OF BANK ROBBERIES AT THAT TIME INCREASED FROM 12 TO 65, WITH MOST OF THE 'RAIDS' OCCURRING WITH THE USE OF VIOLENCE. OF THE OVER 3 MILLION POUNDS STOLEN DURING THIS TIME, VERY LITTLE WAS RECOVERED, AND LESS THAN ONE IN SIX ROBBERS WERE CAPTURED. THE SPECTACULAR ROBBERY OF THE BARCLAYS BANK IN 1972 IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. THE DECLINE IN POLICE MANPOWER, AND THE ELABORATE STRUCTURE OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTRIBUTED TO THE INEFFICIENCY OF THE POLICE. THE 1972 APPOINTMENT OF A NEW COMMISSIONER, AND THE SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF A SPECIAL ROBBERY SQUAD, RESULTED IN THE POLICIES AND TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ENHANCED THE APPREHENSION OF ROBBERY GANGS. ANOTHER FACTOR WAS THE WILLINGNESS OF GANG MEMBERS TO TESTIFY AGAINST THEIR ACCOMPLICES WHICH LED TO MORE CONVICTIONS. THE ROBBERY TRIALS, AND THE ENGLISH SYSTEM OF JUSTICE ARE DISCUSSED. ILLUSTRATIONS AND A LIST OF CHARACTERS ARE PROVIDED. (TK)