A notorious police killer is to be released from prison despite a judge saying he should never walk free.

Harry Roberts, now 78, was convicted of murdering two unarmed plain-clothed policemen in Braybrook Street, Shepherd’s Bush , next to Wormwood Scrubs Prison in August 1966.

His accomplice, John Duddy, fatally shot another officer after the pair opened fire on the policemen who pulled over the criminals’ van following an armed robbery and just before they were allegedly about to break a prisoner out. 

Roberts’ imminent release has caused anger among the policing community, with the London police representative, the Metropolitan Police Federation (MPF), calling his release ‘a betrayal of policing by the judicial system’.

PC Geoffrey Roger Fox, 41, Detective Sergeant Christopher Tippett Head, 30, and Detective Constable David Bertram Wombwell, 25 were shot in front of children playing in the street.

Roberts reportedly showed no remorse and was jailed for life with a minimum of 30 years but has spent 18 years more than that.

The Parole Board of England and Wales has reportedly approved his release from low-security Littlehey Prison, Cambridge, despite the trial judge in 1966 saying he should never be freed.

In a statement, the MPF said: “The horrific story of the deaths of three officers remains as significant today as it was on August 12, 1966.

“It is a scandalous, hurtful and abhorrent decision which opens the door even further for those who have scant regard for law and order. Those who place their lives on the line to protect the public deserve better than this terrible outcome.”

The Federation has criticised the decision coming soon after Home Secretary Theresa May vowed to make sure ‘life means life’ for cop killers.

Eamon Keating, chairman of the Defence Police Federation, which represents the Ministry of Defence Police, tweeted: “Release of Harry Roberts, who murdered unarmed police officers, is a disgrace for justice and the families of the officers.”

The wife of equally notorious killer Ronnie Kray, interviewed Roberts for her book Natural Born Killers, and said he had no remorse for his victims and recreates the murders in art and pastry decorations, making apple pies and decorating them with pastry cut-outs of policemen being shot.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice refused to confirm Roberts was due for release.

She 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.”