Chester Against Business Crime - What's New?

On this page you will find important stories and updates on the activities of Chester Against Business Crime and it's member businesses.

Counterfeit notes on the Increase...

Counterfeit currency notes have been an increasing problem in Chester. The business crime initiative 'Chester Against Business Crime' and 'Pub watch' have teamed up to ensure that this will now be a thing of the past. Counterfeiting is a huge problem in the UK. Fake notes, fake credit cards and every kind of branded goods are faked and seized by the authorities on a regular basis.

The current street value of a counterfeit £20 note is only £5 or £6. These conmen, often working in teams, prey on the innocent and unprotected retailers with consummate ease. Especially when we have little in the form of defence to the 'super -counterfeit' notes that beat UV lamps and chemical pens. For example, if a gang member was to pay £10 for 2 counterfeit £20's, then goes into a clothing retailer and buys a Men's Shirt for £25, the retailer gives them £15 change. They have made their £10 back, got £5 profit and a £25 shirt for free which they can keep, or sell on for more profit. Meanwhile the retailer has 2 fake £20's in the till, is minus the £15 change and the £25 shirt. The Bank will not credit anyone for fake money.

 Fake money can be spent in it's hundreds on all sorts of consumer goods including the weekly shop. Pubs and clubs are a particular target for the counterfeiter due the noisy, busy and dimly lit environment they can operate in. The knock on effect of counterfeit money is that is pushes up prices as retailers and publicans guard against losses. Up until recently, purple UV bulbs have been all that was needed to detect fake notes. Counterfeiters now know this so they produce a superior class of fake note with the invisible markings on that will beat UV bulbs. These notes are of an excellent quality but crucially do not contain the more sophisticated magnetic features that this modern fake money detector highlights. 'Chester Against Business Crime' and Chester 'Pub watch' have proactively responded to the influx of these counterfeit notes by working with Liverpool-based cash security specialists 'Banknote Bodyguard'. These Bank-tested machines that are new to the UK, rely on the magnetic codes and other features to check a genuine note within .2 of a second.

Chester Business Crime Manager, Bob Lelliott said "Moving this excellent piece of technology into retail and leisure outlets should make it very hard for the counterfeiter to succeed in Chester. Even if an outlet in the past had taken just one slip of paper disguised as a bank note, this machine will pay for itself in a very short time, and just as importantly put these conmen out of business"