IN THE LATE 1960'S, THE ARMED HOLDUP SQUAD WAS FORMED IN NEW SOUTH WALES, FOLLOWED BY THE ARMED ROBBERY SQUAD IN VICTORIA. RESEARCH ON ARMED ROBBERY HAS BEEN CONDUCTED BY THE NEW SOUTH WALES BUREAU OF CRIME STATISTICS; IT IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNED WITH BANK ROBBERIES AND THEIR ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RAMIFICATIONS. ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TRENDS IN THE 1970'S IS THE USE OF DRUGS IN CONNECTION WITH ARMED ROBBERY. THE RELATION OF DRUGS TO ROBBERY HAS THREE DISTINCT FACETS: (1) THE USE OF DRUGS FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING COURAGE TO COMMIT AN OFFENSE; (2) THE COMMISSION OF ARMED ROBBERY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECTLY OBTAINING DRUGS; AND (3) THE COMMISSION OF ARMED ROBBERY FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING MONEY TO PURCHASE DRUGS, USUALLY EXPENSIVE HARD DRUGS SUCH AS HEROIN. THE NUMBER OF ARMED ROBBERIES COMMITTED BY PROFESSIONALS IN AUSTRALIA IS INCREASING, AS IS THE DEGREE OF PROFESSIONALISM EXHIBITED. THE HOLDUP CAMERA HAS PROVEN TO BE AN IMPORTANT INVESTIGATIVE AID FOR PRIVATE SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS. WHILE THE CAMERA HAS A DETERRENT EFFECT, ITS MAIN FUNCTIONS ARE TO IDENTIFY OFFENDERS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE FOR USE IN COURT, TO SHOW THE ROLE PLAYED BY INDIVIDUAL OFFENDERS, AND TO ELIMINATE PERSONS NOT INVOLVED BUT SUSPECTED OF BEING INVOLVED. MAJOR REASONS WHY ARMED ROBBERY IS INCREASING IN AUSTRALIA ARE CITED, AND DATA ON THE INCIDENCE OF ARMED ROBBERY, ARMED ROBBERY SOLUTION RATES BY TYPE OF PREMISE, AND CASH LOSSES DUE TO ARMED ROBBERY ARE TABULATED. (DEP)