NSW: Response team to tackle armed robbery increase - Costa

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NSW: Response team to tackle armed robbery increase - Costa

A special response team will be set up by the New South Wales government to tacklea big increase in armed robberies across the state.

State police minister MICHAEL COSTA has announced the move following the release ofstatistics showing a 34 per cent increase in robberies involving firearms between January2000 and December 2001 in NSW.

The figure is contained in a NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research report released today.

While the report shows 10 of the 16 major crime categories remained stable and twodecreased, Mr COSTA says the armed hold-up statistic concerns him.

He's instructed police to set up the Armed Robbery Response Team which will includea number of analysts and detectives.

MR COSTA says other taskforces will address areas identified in the report as beingof specific concern.

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KEYWORD: CRIME COSTA (SYDNEY)