London Metropolitan Police

The decision to release Harry Roberts is a "slap in the face" for the families of his victims, the head of the police federation said.

In a statement to ITV News, Steve White, Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said he was "appalled" by the Parole Board's ruling, adding that officers felt "badly let down".

Police killer Harry Roberts is to be released from prison after more than 45 years behind bars.

Roberts, now 78, was handed a life sentence for the murder of three policemen in Shepherd's Bush, west London, in 1966. His 30-year minimum tariff expired 18 years ago.

The Parole Board is understood to have approved his release and he will be subject to close monitoring by police and the Probation Service.

Detective Sergeant Christopher Head, 30, Detective Constable David Wombwell, 25, and Pc Geoffrey Fox, 41, were shot dead without warning while questioning three suspects in a van on August 12, 1966.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We do not comment on individuals.

"The release of life sentence prisoners is directed by the independent Parole Board once they are satisfied they can be safely managed in the community. Once released they are subject to strict controls for as long as their risk requires them. If they fail to comply with these conditions they can be immediately returned to prison.

"Offenders managed through Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) are monitored and supervised by probation, police and other agencies."

Harry Roberts opened fire on three unarmed police officers after they pulled over his van ahead of an armed robbery near Wormwood Scrubs Prison in 1966.

The murders of PC Geoffrey Roger Fox, 41, Detective Constable David Stanley Bertram Wombwell, 30, and Detective Sargent Christopher Tippet Head, 25 shocked the nation.

Roberts went on the the run for more than 90 days and was eventually found in Hertfordshire following a huge manhunt.

The judge who jailed Roberts described it was "the most heinous crime for a generation or more", and warned that he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

But Roberts, now 78, could be released within days after approval by the Parole Board.

The Metropolitan Police is warning Londoners to guard against gangs of thieves targeting gold jewellery during Diwali celebrations - the five day festival of light festival that begins later this week.

It says intelligence analysis has shown organised criminal networks are increasingly involved in lucrative 'family gold theft' which disproportionately affects Asian families across various hotspots across the capital.

The festival period tends to see a spike in this type of crime largely due to more gold and jewellery being worn as the local community travel across London to different venues - whether temples, streets or other people's homes.

It says that combined with the annual rise generally in burglary and robbery at this time of year as the nights draw in, it means Asian communities are particularly vulnerable to thieves keen to cash in on the buoyant market for gold being sold through second hand outlets.

Four men charged with terror offences and a fifth man facing a firearms charge have been remanded in custody to appear the Old Bailey later this month.

Tarik Hassane, 21, Suhaib Majeed, 20, Nyall Hamlett, 24, and Momen Motasim, 21, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with intending to commit acts of terrorism.

Nathan Cuffy, 25, also appeared in court charged with firearms offences.

Dressed in prison-issue grey sweatshirts and trousers, they all confirmed their names and addresses. They were flanked in the dock by 10 plain-clothes police officers, some of whom were wearing white stabproof vests, and four uniformed dock officers.

They arrived at court under heavy police protection including a helicopter, two vans and several marked cars.

Four men have appeared in court accused of plotting a terror attack on police officers or soldiers on the streets of London.

Tarik Hassane, 21, Suhaib Majeed, 20, Nyall Hamlett, 24, and Momen Motasim, 21, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with intending to commit acts of terrorism.

Members of the gang allegedly swore allegiance to extremist group Islamic State (IS) and scouted out Shepherd's Bush police station and White City Territorial Army Barracks.

Hassane and Majeed laughed as details of the alleged plot were read to the court.

They allegedly kept Instagram images of two Scotland Yard police officers and two Metropolitan Police community support officers, as well as a trove of jihadist material including videos of beheadings.

In addition, they are accused of having a Baikal handgun, silencer and six rounds of ammunition.

A fifth man, Nathan Cuffy, 25, also appeared in court charged with firearms offences.

The five men, dressed in prison-issue grey sweatshirts and trousers, confirmed their names and addresses. All men live at addresses across London.

The police marksman who is charged with the murder of robbery suspect Azelle Rodney can be named for the first time today.

Anthony Long, previously referred to as E7, will go on trial on June 8th next year.

The ex-specialist firearms officer with the Metropolitan Police CO19 section is accused of killing Mr Rodney, who was shot by police in Edgware in April 2005.

The 24 year old died after officers stopped the car he was travelling in with two other men, fearing that they were armed and on their way to rob Colombian drug dealers.

He was hit six times, once each in the arm and back, and fatally four times in the head.

The CPS announced it planned to charge the officer in July following a public inquiry.

Detectives in Barnet have released an e-fit of a man they want to speak to after a woman was handcuffed and gagged and her house burgled by men pretending to be police officers.

In August this year the men knocked on the victim's door on Eagle Drive, shouting that they were police officers. They were dressed in fake police uniforms and produced a fake search warrant.

But when the victim let them in, they handcuffed her and gagged her with a piece of tape, threatened her with a knife and demanded money.

Police want to trace the man shown in the e-fit above, who is thought to be around 25 years old, as well as an accomplice who is around 28 years old, tall and stocky with short, light brown hair.