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2009
Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards
MEDIA RELEASE 29 OCTOBER 2009
ATM RAM-RAID STRIKE FORCE WINS NATIONAL AWARD
A
New South Wales Police initiative which successfully halted an upsurge in ram-raids on automatic
teller machines has won national recognition at the 2009 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention
Awards (ACVPA).
By uniting the crime prevention efforts of police, retail business operators, banking organisations and
the security industry, the Strike Force Piccadilly initiative was able to effectively end a spate of ram-raid
thefts of ATMs from retail outlets which began in 2005 in the greater Sydney area.
The project received a National Award presented by Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor at
Parliament House in Canberra today.
The strike force commander, Detective Inspector Murray Chapman, said the project was successful
because stakeholders came together to share information and commit to crime prevention measures.
“These included a police priority alarm response system, prevention measures such as relocating ATMs
and installing bollards to protect them, the development of a risk assessment and reduction tool and the
sharing of intelligence reports on attempted ram raids,” Inspector Chapman said.
“Our reports showed that we were able to stifle the robbery attempts, reducing them from 69 in the year
before Strike Force Piccadilly’s two-year operation to 19 in the 12 months following the intervention.
The number of successful raids was reduced over the period from 30 to two.
“Between August 2005 and June 2007, 97 people were arrested by Strike Force Piccadilly for 491
offences related to ATM ram raids, with 21 separate gangs being identified and incapacitated.”
Minister O’Connor said the program was one of two ACVPA projects organised by those in the police
sector which demonstrate a contribution above and beyond day-to-day policing activities.
“The project demonstrated the significant crime prevention benefits capable of public-private
partnerships, especially when they are well-organised and include a commitment to research and
information sharing,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Strike Force Piccadilly’s innovative crime prevention initiatives are still being applied to other property
crime problems by police.
“The police hotline and alarm response protocols developed by the project are still being used in NSW,
as are the risk assessment service, risk reduction guidelines and regular intelligence sharing.”
The ACVPA is a joint initiative of the Australian, State and Territory governments which rewards
outstanding community-based projects that prevent or reduce crime and violence.
Eight ground-breaking projects involving young offenders and youth at risk, Indigenous communities,
religious congregations, police and community health and safety organisations have won national
recognition this year.
For more information about the Australian Community Violence Prevention Awards visit
Media contacts: Scott Kelleher 0418 159525, Caterina Giugovaz 0418 221798.
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2009
Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards
MEDIA RELEASE 29 OCTOBER 2009
PROJECT OVERVIEW: STRIKE FORCE PICCADILLY, NEW SOUTH WALES
Strike Force Piccadilly, New South Wales
This NSW Police initiative began in August 2005 to address an upsurge in ram-raids on automatic teller
machines. The project involved a partnership between NSW Police and private sector stakeholders via
consultation, cooperative research, information sharing and a commitment to preventive measures.
The initiative included a police priority alarm system, the application of proven prevention measures and
the development of a risk assessment tool and intelligence reports on all attempted ram raids.
Key outcomes:
Offences reduced from 69 in the year prior to the initiative to 19 in the final 12 months
The number of successful raids reduced from 30 to 2 in the same period
97 arrests for 491 offences and 21 gangs identified and incapacitated
ends
Media contacts: Scott Kelleher 0418 159525, Caterina Giugovaz 0418 221798.
NEWS 
