BRUSSELS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Constant advances in intelligent solutions for secure cash transportation and storage in Europe calls for a review of the entire communication and security system surrounding criminal attempts to recycle stained banknotes. As part of this process, EURICPA held the first European conference on “the stained banknote cycle” in Brussels on Tuesday 8 November 2011.
In a bid to boost communication on stained banknotes, in November 2011
the European Commission launched a communication campaign on the theme
of “a stained banknote is probably a stolen banknote”.
The
campaign was presented at the conference, and posters and information
booklets were handed over to the Chambers of Commerce of several Member
States to ensure that retailers are properly informed as to the probable
fraudulent origin of stained banknotes.
The conference also included a presentation on the situation in Belgium, where there have been no attacks or attempted attacks on cash transporters in over five years. Belgium has marked all its cash in transit vehicles with pictograms indicating that the vehicles are equipped with neutralisation systems. These systems have proved totally dissuasive to criminals. The efforts made by Banknote Watch in the United Kingdom and other countries to provide retailers with better information on the fraudulent nature of stained banknotes were also underlined.
EURICPA plans to work in parallel with vending machines and ATM manufacturers in order to promote the use of effective sensors to detect stained banknotes in ATMs and machines that accept banknotes.
The efforts of European police forces to combat organised crime and attempts to circulate banknotes stolen in other Member States rely on the ability to identify any stained stolen banknotes recovered. The introduction of a European database of ink dyes and stained banknotes, developed by the French Institut National de Police Scientifique (INPS) in collaboration with the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI), is a major step in this direction.
At the conference, Patrice Rullier, Chairman of EURICPA and Managing Director of Oberthur Cash Protection, said:
“We need to move forward together to spread the word on the fraudulent nature of a stained banknote and to prevent criminal attempts at recycling these notes via machines or through the retail trade. The fact that, in the eyes of the European Central bank, a stained note remains legal tender undermines the efficiency of intelligent cash transport and storage solutions”.
About EURICPA
EURICPA (European Intelligent Cash Protection Association) was founded in 2005 and has six members. The association participates in the European debate on all questions relating to cash transport and storage and promotes the use of intelligent cash transport and storage solutions to European institutions and Member States.
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