Former Flying Squad commander John O'Connor accused the Met of having "no tactics and nowhere near enough people" at the scene.

BBC: Tuition fees protest violence 'unacceptable', says PM

One of Manifold's most famous stories was the revelation in 1972 that the then head of the Flying Squad, Commander Kenneth Drury, had been on holiday with a pornographer.

BBC: Tabloid tactics

John Azzata, commander of the Nassau County Police Homicide Squad, said the attempted robbery appeared to be a crime of opportunity.

WSJ: Police Officer Accidentally Shot Hofstra Student