Robbery can have a profound effect upon victims, both physically and emotionally.

These can be long-lasting and are often life-changing, sapping the confidence of the victims and reducing them to shadows of their former selves.

Now the crime has become the focus of a newly-created team within Bradford South Police.

It was set up by Detective Chief Inspector Ian Bryar following the high-profile case of Matthew Judson, who was jailed for five years this month for robbing three Bradford University students by holding a knife to the throat of one of them, He had been before the courts 13 times before for a total of 27 offences – some similar to his latest crimes, and had served previous prison sentences for robbery.

Says Det Chief Insp Bryar: “As a result of a long investigation, we arrested a man who was subsequently jailed.

“We were provided with a lot of information, and I would like to thank the people of Bradford. The case generated a lot of publicity – there were a lot of concerned students, staff and residents. I decided to set up this team as a result of this investigation, to reassure communities.”

The specialist team will be made up of Det Chief Insp Bryar, a detective sergeant and six constables.

“It will involve working alongside officers from neighbourhood policing teams helping to reassure people and offer support,” says Det Chief Insp Bryar: “We will be looking closely at methods of detection and prevention for all robberies, ranging from school children taking cash from other pupils to robbery of commercial premises.”

“We want to interact with the people who are likely to be subject to a robbery and also look at crime prevention on more vulnerable premises and areas.”

Robbery differs from theft in that not only is property taken from the victim, but it is taken using force or the threat of force. It is a serious offence and prison is often a possibility after conviction.

The team’s focus will include working with schools to educate children and young people about the implications of the crime.

“Young children often don’t realise the seriousness of robbery or the criminality attached to it. A child taking someone else’s dinner money, for example. If it is theft with an element of violence, it could be deemed robbery. Incidents can easily get out of hand, particularly among groups of children in schools.”

He adds: “We have children arrested for robbery at 13-years-old. It is unusual, but it happens. We want youngsters to think before they act.”

The team will work alongside Safer Schools officers, Neighbourhood Policing Teams, and Bradford Council, initially visiting secondary schools across the district.

“We will talk to pupils about the implications and dangers of being involved in robbery. We want to tell them that if they do take dinner money, a mobile phone or any other property and threats of violence are used, they could be committing robbery.”

They will also make stringent investigations as to where stolen mobile phones – a key target for criminals – end up. Across the district, roughly every third robbery reported involves a mobile phone.

“If someone is offered a mobile phone for sale or suspects someone may have stolen a phone for other reasons, we would like to know about it. We want to know where people go to sell them on,” says Det Chief Insp Bryar.

Bogus officials targeting the elderly will also come under the team’s scrutiny.

And links with partners such as the Council, health authority and other agencies will be strengthened.

The team will also work with experts in designing out crime, whereby the environment itself – the layout of buildings, footpaths and other features – can help in crime prevention. “We want to look at locations vulnerable to robbery, such as parks and certain residential areas, and look at ways the potential threat could be reduced. “We are already working with the NPT to make places safer and are going to build on this,” says Det Chief Insp Bryar.

He recognises the impact of robbery on victims. “The physical and mental impact of a crime involving violence can have a significant effect upon an individual.

“Just consider, if the victim was your brother, sister or parent who had been subjected to a violent offence – how would you feel?”

Diane Pae, operations manager of Victim Support in Bradford, praised the initiative: “The ripple effect of robbery can affect your whole life. Some people become fearful of going out, and those who were robbed at home don’t want to return. People can lose their jobs, too.”

l To report a crime, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. For more about Victim Support Bradford, ring (01274) 530544.