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The Road to Balcombe Street

The IRA Reign of Terror in London

Edited by Steve Moysey

Published October 23rd 2007 by Routledge – 316 pages

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Description

Learn the story of the infamous 1975 standoff between the London Police and the IRA


The Road to Balcombe Street: The IRA Reign of Terror in London is the highly detailed account and analysis of law enforcement negotiation lessons learned from the infamous hostage standoff between the London Metropolitan Police (the Met) and four members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) in the winter of 1975. With eye-witness and first-hand testimony, this book examines the events leading up to the clash and their political context as well as how both sides handled the hostage situation and the strategies and tactics used by the police to safely diffuse the volatile situation.

Comprehensive and readable, The Road to Balcombe Street: The IRA Reign of Terror in London looks at not only the six days making up the standoff but places the confrontation in unique historical context by giving a detailed summary of IRA activity in London in the years leading up to the siege. In addition, this vital study explores the aftershocks arising from the apprehension of the IRA team as well as the hostage negotiation lessons learned in the conflict. This useful resource also features a thorough bibliography and list of electronic resources.


The Road to Balcombe Street: The IRA Reign of Terror in London details:

  • the history of the IRA’s involvement in terrorist attacks on London
  • background and buildup to the 1974-1975 London IRA campaign
  • the assassination of Ross McWhirter
  • the Met’s surveillance and dragnet operations tracking the IRA
  • a moment-by-moment account leading up to the events of December 6, 1975
  • day-by-day details of the subsequent siege at Balcombe Street
  • negotiation and hostage-crisis resolution techniques used by the Met
  • post-siege events
  • psychological observations arising from the siege
  • and much, much more!
The Road to Balcombe Street: The IRA Reign of Terror in London is a useful resource for practicing law enforcement negotiating teams and professionals; history, sociology, and social psychology students and educators; and general readers as well.

Contents

  • PART I
  • Foreword (Lord Peter Imbert)
  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1. Background to the 1974-1975 London ASU Campaign
  • Chapter 2. Phase One
  • Chapter 3. Phase Two
  • Chapter 4. December 6th, 1975
  • PART II
  • Chapter 5. The Siege, December 7th-12th, 1975
  • Chapter 6. Post Siege Events
  • Chapter 7. Observations on the Balcombe Street Siege
  • Chapter 8. Postscript
  • Index
  • Reference Notes Included