PSNI to assist in Kent robbery investigation

British Police hunting robbers who stole £53 million from a security depot in Kent today revealed that the PSNI are to assist…

British Police hunting robbers who stole £53 million from a security depot in Kent today revealed that the PSNI are to assist in the investigation.

The officer leading the investigation, Chief Constable Michael Fuller, also revealed today that police had made "another further significant cash seizure" in the last 24 hours but declined to elaborate.

Giving an update on the inquiry involving over 300 officers, Mr Fuller told reporters that £11 million have been recovered to date, most from industrial premises in London. He also said 17 people have been arrested and five people charged since the armed raid.

The biggest cash heist in British history was carried out nearly two weeks ago when a gang posing as police officers seized the manager of the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent, took his wife and son hostage and threatened to kill them unless he helped them get inside the compound.

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The operation was similar to the one in Belfast 15 months ago in which £26.5 million was stolen. People linked to republican paramilitaries were thought to be behind the Northern Bank raid, but there has to date been no indication they are suspected of involvement in the Kent robbery.

Chief Const Fuller said the PSNI had been invited to review the progress of the investigation.

This was "to ensure we have identified and exploited all reasonable lines of inquiry and that our investigation is professional and thorough", he said.

The PSNI team is expected to arrive early this week.

PA