THE family of a detective who was killed by notorious police killer Harry Roberts say they are trying to come to terms with his release from prison.

Roberts, now 78, was jailed for life for murdering three unarmed officers in Shepherd's Bush, London, in 1966.

Among them was Christopher Head, 30, from Dartmouth, who was serving with the Metropolitan Police when he was shot dead in what became known as the Massacre of Braybrook Street.

Roberts was released from Littlehey Prison in Cambridgeshire on Monday evening. It is thought that he will now be closely monitored but will not be given a new identity.

Met Police Federat­ion chairman John Tully called his release 'sickening', while relatives of the officers have previously condemned the plans.

Detective Sergeant Head's surviving sister, Grace, who lives in Sydney, Australia, said she had received the 'shocking' news in a telephone call from her nephew, Robert.

'He called from England to tell me,' she told the Chronicle.

'It's all very difficult. I am just sad. I feel life should be life. I know Harry Roberts is an old man now, but so would my brother have been. They were the same age. It's upsetting but what can you do. I hope he doesn't misbehave again. It's unfortunate that capital punishment was abolished just the year before.'

The police officers were shot when they approached a van containing Roberts and two other gang members, John Duddy and John Witney, following an armed robbery.

DS Head and 25-year-old DC David Wombwell were shot by Roberts, while PC Geoffrey Fox, 41, was killed by Duddy. Roberts was convicted of murder in relation to all three deaths.

The Ministry of Just­ice said there were 'public protection arrange­ments' in place to manage released prisoners.

'Offenders on life sentences are subject to strict controls for as long as their risk requires them,' said a spokes­­man.

Reacting last month to news Roberts was to be released, Mandy Fox, daughter of PC Fox, branded the decision a 'disgrace'.

Gillian Wombwell, widow of DC Wombwell, said: 'Our sentence is for life and so should his be.'

Roberts was given a 30-year minimum sentence and served 48 years in total.

Witney and Duddy were both given life sentences. Witney was released on licence in 1991 after serving nearly 25 years, but was murdered in Bristol eight years later. Duddy has also died.

DS Head was the youngest of six children who grew up on the Townstal estate.

Family friend Di Distin said his mother, Hilda, had died mourning her son and he had not been forgotten in Dartmouth. She said news of Roberts' release was 'absolutely disappointing'.

'I didn't think it would come to this,' she said. 'I had hoped the authorities would have listened to public opinion.'

Mrs Distin said Peter Lock, who married DS Head's late sister Ann, was coming to Dart­mouth this weekend to mark his 90th birthday along with other family members.