Harry Roberts and Foxtrot One-One: The Shepherd's Bush Massacre

by Geoffrey Barton, Geoffrey Barton

In August 1966, two weeks after England won the World Cup, and four miles from Wembley Stadium, Harry Roberts and his associates gunned down three unarmed police detectives in front of dozens of primary school children. The nation was outraged and struggled to understand what had happened. Roberts had served in the special forces during the conflict in Malaya and claimed he was assigned to kill selected targets. He returned to the UK keen to continue such work in civilian life, but he was rejected by the two gangs that dominated the London Criminal Underworld in the 1960s, the Krays and the Richardsons. Prophetically, they considered him to be too violent. Following the Shepherd's Bush Massacre, Roberts' accomplices, John Witney and John Duddy, were quickly arrested, but Roberts went to ground, using the survival and camouflage skills that he had learned in the British Army. Harry Roberts and Foxtrot One-One covers every detail of the investigation and manhunt that followed, from arrest, trial and imprisonment to Roberts' eventual (and controversial) release. One of the most notorious crimes of the 20th century. The case that led to the police firearms training arrangements seen today. Looks at the tragic impact on the victims' families. By a former senior Metropolitan Police armed officer.

206 pages, Paperback

Published September 4, 2017

Reviews

[Crime Traveller]

The murder of Police Constable Fox, Temporary Detective Constable Wombwell, Detective Sergeant Head in London in August 1966 is a crime that has remained in the hearts of many due to its brutality and the killing of serving police officers simply doing their job. The infamy of one of the perpetrators Harry Roberts is ingrained in British criminal history after a police hunt, prison sentence and controversial release in the 51 years since these murders took place.

In Harry Roberts and Foxtrot One-One former Metropolitan police officer Geoff Barton explores this crime and the investigation that followed into the three men that were responsible; Harry Roberts, John Duddy and John Witney. His book released on 4 September 2017 tells the full and true story behind the events on that day alongside the deep-seated lasting emotion that has never left this case.

Geoff Barton has collated the full facts of this tragic story and presented them in a well written and organised book which leaves no stone unturned in the discussion of this crime. A fascinating look at a triple murder, high-profile police investigation and the capture and trial of the killers, populated with images and historical narrative to root the telling of this crime in the era it took place.

You can read my full review of Harry Roberts and Foxtrot One-One on Crime Traveller: https://www.crimetraveller.org/2017/1...