Four of Lambeth’s most prolific robbers have been charged and now face prosecution after a new police unit was launched to tackle a recent spike in offending.

The Lambeth robbery co-ordination desk was introduced on June 9 to improve police response to a worrying increase in street robbery and youth violence.

It oversaw a 20 per cent increase in arrests and a 34 per cent drop in robbery in its first week in operation.

The unit uses a dedicated police radio channel, so 999 callers are now put directly through to a member of the team in its control room, based in Streatham police station.

It means cops can get details of offences and a description of a suspect out to its officers within moments of the incident.

Officers believe this has doubled the speed with which officers can get a detailed description and be out looking for a suspect.

Previously, a victim would have to wait for an officer to arrive at the scene of a crime to take a detailed description.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Wagstaff, who is heading the unit, said: “Speed is key. If you leave it any time you are going to struggle.

“People commit a robbery and then get themselves off the street as quickly as possible, so the quicker we can act the better.”

From receiving the description, the police send out details to a number of units strategically placed around the borough.

One car will go straight to the victim, pick them up and then look for the suspect.

At least another two cars will immediately start looking for the suspect, meaning more suspects are being caught and arrested.

D Chief Insp Wagstaff said four of the borough’s most wanted robbery suspects had been caught in the past week as a result of the new system.

The unit is combining its work with sting operations, where undercover officers disguise themselves as common victims of robbery, such as pizza delivery staff, to catch robbers red-handed.

He said combating robbery was important in breaking up the activities of youth gangs.

THE UNIT AT WORK The importance of a good description led the new unit to make a significant arrest last week.

On Thursday, at 6.24pm, police received reports of an attempted robbery in Thirlmere Road, Streatham Park, by a man with a gold tooth and a scarf wrapped around his head.

Officers in the control room matched his description and recognised a pattern in the offending from a recent domestic robbery nearby.

The suspect’s description was circulated by the robbery desk.

At 7.30pm, the suspect was spotted on CCTV in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, and the information passed back to the robbery desk.

He was quickly arrested, found to be in possession of five stolen mobile phones and charged with robbery.

He had been seen leaving a shop prior to his arrest.

The shopkeeper was also found to be in possession of a stolen phone and was arrested for handling stolen goods.