In recent years, two important initiatives have raised awareness about the deterrent value of security marking products – namely Banknote Watch and Raid-control, both of which have featured heavily in the pages of SMT.
Banknote Watch is a campaign with a simple message (ie 'a stained note is probably a stolen note'). The campaign has certainly increased the effectiveness of cash degradation systems by raising public awareness of what a stained note actually looks like, and what should be done with them when they're detected.

Importantly, Banknote Watch has also warned would-be criminals that spending stolen cash is now more difficult.

The second initiative, Raid-control, is raising security standards in retail premises in order to reduce commercial robberies. Premises that successfully meet Raid-control standards can then display a 'Police Certificated' sign.

The success of these initiatives is a result of the co-operation and partnership work of the police, security manufacturers and installers, the BSIA and other industry bodies.

Much can be learned from what has happened to date. With this in mind, the Cash and Property Marking Section at the BSIA is already working to build on the achievements of these two schemes.

For more information, take a look at: www.bsia.co.uk/bsia_cpm.taf

Source

SMT

Postscript

Chris Taylor is chairman of the BSIA's Cash and Property Marking Section and managing director of Selectamark Security Systems plc