Dick Kirby Operation countryman

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In the summer of 1978, rumours emerged from the underworld that huge sums of money had been paid to the City of London Police to water-down evidence and arrange bail in cases of armed robbery.

Then it was suggested that Scotland Yard's Flying squad was also involved.

The Home Secretary appointed the Dorset Police to investigate but it became clear to the criminals upon whom they relied to provide evidence that they were completely out of their depth.

One line of enquiry after another became hopelessly compromised.

While the investigation was known officially as Operation COUNTRYMAN, things were so bad that the team were variously nicknamed 'The Swedey' and 'Malice in Blunderland'.

Despite a four year enquiry costing 4,000,000 just two convictions were secured and the credit for these went to an undercover officer.

Eight Metropolitan policemen were acquitted.

The Author, a former senior Metropolitan police officer has used his knowledge and contacts to lift the lid on the shambolic COUNTRYMAN enquiry.

He pulls no punches.