FROM MAY 30 THROUGH JUNE 3, 1977, 25 REPRESENTATIVES OF POLICE FORCES, PRIVATE PROTECTION AGENCIES, BANKS, BANK EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATIONS, RESEARCHERS, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, ARCHITECTURE, AND VICTIM GROUPS, FROM ALL STATES, ASSEMBLED AT THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF CRIMINOLOGY TO CONSIDER CERTAIN ASPECTS OF ARMED ROBBERY IN AUSTRALIA. SPECIFICALLY, THE GROUP CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: (1) WORTHWHILE AREAS OF HUMAN-BASED RESEARCH PERTAINING TO THE INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION OF ARMED ROBBERY, (2) DESIRABILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN ARMED ROBBERY INFORMATION SERVICE, AND (3) TECHNOLOGICAL HARDWARE AND BUILDING DESIGN AS A DEFENSE AGAINST ARMED ROBBERY. RESEARCH IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS WAS RECOMMENDED: POLICE PATROL DEPLOYMENT STRATEGIES, ROBBERY-SPECIFIC PATROL AND INVESTIGATION STRATEGIES, VICTIMOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF ROBBERY, PROTECTIVE SECURITY MEASURES, SENTENCING POLICIES, THE OPERATION OF BAIL AND PROBATION SYSTEMS, THE PROSECUTORIAL PROCESS, THE CONCEPT OF DETERRENCE, AND THE FEASIBILITY OF TRIAL IN ABSENTIA. IT ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE AUSTRALIAN POLICE COMMISSIONERS CONSIDER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ARMED ROBBERY INFORMATION SERVICE AS A MATTER OF URGENCY AND THAT THE FEASIBILITY OF SUCH AN INFORMATION SERVICE BE RESEARCHED BY A MULTDISCIPLINARY WORKING PARTY WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH POLICE FORCE. IN THE AREA OF PREVENTION THROUGH TECHNOLOGICAL HARDWARE BUILDING DESIGN, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT GREATER USE BE MADE OF CURRENT SECURITY SYSTEMS IN POORLY PROTECTED AND UNPROTECTED HIGH RISK AREAS AND THAT GREATER USE BE MADE OF COMPETENT PROFESSIONALS IN BASIC SECURITY PLANNING, PARTICULARLY IN MATTERS OF DESIGN, METHOD, AND EQUIPMENT RELATING TO THE PLANNING OF NEW AND RENOVATED PREMISES. (RCB)