Five leading organisations have become members of the Banknote Watch Trust, the initiative that promotes awareness among retailers that a "stained note is probably a stolen note".
Greater Manchester Police, the British Oil Security Syndicate, the Association for Payment Clearing Services, Security Plus and TraceTag have all now been accepted into membership.

Banknote Watch chairman Alan Townsend told SMT: "The addition of two major trade associations, the UK's second largest police force and two leading players from the private sector is a great boost for the Trust, and will significantly enhance its base of expertise."

The real aim of the initiative is to 'put thieves out of business' by making it difficult to spend stolen cash. As Townsend was quick to explain: "If criminals cannot dispose of stolen money, then they might just think twice about stealing it in the first place."

Banknote Watch members include private sector security companies in the Cash-in-Transit market whose products can assist police with intelligence gathering and, in some cases, help to identify where the notes were stolen.

Forensic products can also provide an evidence trail back to the robber(s), which means that members of the public are being urged to help catch armed criminals by handing in any stained notes that come into their possession.

Source

SMT