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If
you recover stained notes:
- Stained
notes can be recovered in a variety of ways; arrests, searches,
property found etc. and depending on the circumstances Police
and other law enforcement agencies may wish to identify where
these notes originated.
- Banknote
Watch and its’ members are committed to assisting the Police,
Forensic Science Laboratories and other law enforcement agencies
regarding all aspects of stained notes resulting from activations
of cash degradation systems.
What
to look for:
- Notes
that look, feel or smell different.
- Staining
- green, bluish purple or red around the edges of the notes or
across one side as though they have been dipped in ink
- Burning
or charring. This may be as the result of the heat used in smoke
systems.
- Fading,
the absence of the watermark or foil, or a change in the feel
of the banknote. This may be result of efforts to remove the stain
using various means.
- During
a search - containers of chemicals, trays, gloves etc. that could
be used in the cleaning or separating of banknotes. Staining on
items – sink, bath, washing machine or stained clothing.
Who
to contact:
- Initial
contact should be made through DC Alan Townsend, MPS Flying Squad
Crime Prevention & Banknote Watch Co-ordinator, on any of
the above contact points.
Cash
Degradation Systems:
- Cash
degradation systems use either a smoke or dye agent to stain the
cash being protected.
- The
smoke systems emit a bright red smoke and stain the cash with
the same colour. The stained notes may give off a smell like a
spent firework initially and will stain fingers when touched;
both effects will fade with time.
- The
dye systems stain the cash with a bluish-purple or green colour.
The stained notes may give off a slight smell of paint initially
and will stain fingers when touched; the dye dries in approximately
twelve hours.
- Cash
degradation systems are broadly divided into two groups; cash
in transit/ATM protection and cash protection in financial institutions/retail
outlets.
How
can Banknote Watch help:
- Initial
identification of manufacturer based on verbal description of
stain and circumstances of recovery.
- Direct
contact details of all the major manufacturers and end-users of
cash degradation systems.
- Provision
of chemical components of all major manufacturers stains, held
centrally by Banknote Watch.
- Provision
of the lists of chemicals used in smoke-dye devices and reagents
used in the immersion in chemicals test, the injection of chemicals
test and the permanence test included in the British Standards
Institution PAS 40, held centrally by Banknote Watch.
- Full
back-up support and ongoing advice.
How
can manufacturers help:
- Manufacturers
will provide full details of chemical components, note cipher
numbers if recorded, and details of activations where known.
- Following
forensic analysis, manufacturers will provide controlled samples
and witness statements in the event of a prosecution.
Advice
for investigating Officers
This
section relates to till cash protection security systems used in
financial institutions and retail outlets.
What
to ask staff:
- Was
a security pack taken or handed to the raider?
- Was
the security pack in a bag or in a pocket?
- What
type of bag was used?
- After
what delay was the security pack designed to activate (usually
10 seconds)?
Escape
on foot:
- Establish
all the alternative locations where the security pack would be
5 to 10 seconds after activation, when the smoke reaches its’
full emission rate.
- This
could be 15 to 20 seconds from the premises, taking into account
the delayed activation.
What
to look for:
- The
complete discarded bag, with contents.
- The
security pack and some scattered banknotes, polythene bags may
melt.
- Discarded
stained clothing.
Where
to look (immediately following the raid):
- Behind
walls, hedges and fences.
- Temporary
hiding places.
Escape
by car:
- Placed
on a seat, the security pack will progressively fill the vehicle
with red smoke.
Witnesses:
- Security
packs produce a cloud of red smoke for about 20 seconds drawing
attention to it, the raider and vehicle used.
- It
is important to identify/appeal for witnesses who may have seen
the red smoke as they may hold valuable eyewitness evidence.
Evidence:
- Following
an activation of a security pack, stains on money, clothing, vehicles,
etc., may help identify the suspect.
- In
some cases the stain may contain a unique identifier.
- Controlled
samples of the dye are available on request.
- There
are a number of other identity checks that can be made and officers
should contact Banknote Watch for this information.
Safe
Handling Notice - Cash In Transit Boxes
Issued by the Home Officer Police Scientific Development Branch
August 2003
This
notice is intended for circulation to all members of police forces
who may, in the course of their duty, have occasion to deal with
security industry ‘cash in transit boxes’. It is of
particular relevance if these items are to be retained by police
for evidential or forensic purposes in connection with an investigation.
The
term 'cash in transit box' refers to all types of traditional security
boxes used by the cash in transit industry to convey securities
between premises and vehicle in the ordinary course of business
and where such equipment is fitted with pyrotechnic packs. Typically
these devices are referred to as 'smoke boxes'.
Following
consultation with respective forces, the Forensic Science Service,
and the Health & Safety Executive, the following procedure should
be adopted in all cases where 'cash in transit boxes' are dealt
with:
- The utmost
care must be exercised by any person who has reason to deal with
cash in transit boxes.
- Under no
circumstances should officers or support staff handle or otherwise
interfere with the cash box, its components, or mechanisms unless,
and until, both the locking circuitry and smoke activation circuitry
have been certificated as disabled by an authorised representative
of the security company concerned.
- Under no
circumstances should a cash in transit box be taken into police
possession unless, and until, both the locking circuitry and smoke
activation circuitry have been certificated as disabled by an
authorised representative of the security company concerned.
- The certification
confirming that the device has been disabled should accompany
the device at all times whilst in possession of police. Note that
the FSS will not accept security cash boxes without this certification.
For
further details or to obtain a Banknote Watch information pack,
FACTFILE, public awareness poster and
advice to retailers leaflet please contact Alan
Townsend, Banknote Watch Co-ordinator.
Counterfeit
Banknotes
Banknote
Watch is primarily concerned with notes that have been stained in
the process of being stolen using cash degradation systems, however,
we frequently receive enquiries regarding counterfeit banknotes.
In
order to help visitors to our website an article has been included
on the FACTFILE page entitled ‘Know
Your Banknotes’, which gives clear advice on how Bank of England
notes can be checked quickly.
www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Crimestoppers
Trust, set up in 1988 is the only UK charity aimed at putting criminals
behind bars through an anonymous Freephone number: 0800 555 111.
Callers with information on crime are not asked their name. This
anonymity is the key to the scheme's success, because it provides
callers with complete safety from any reprisals.
Your
call is free • You do not have to give your name • You
may receive a reward.
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