Detector pens will help taxi drivers crack down on counterfeit cash

Taxi drivers will be able to stay aware of scam notes with the use of detector pens, which will be given out free of charge by licensing officers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Licensing officers at Wrexham Council and North Wales Police launched a campaign earlier this week to help taxi and private hire drivers tackle the problem of counterfeit notes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The campaign comes after police officers working in Wrexham found counterfeit £20 and £50 notes in circulation in the town centre, and advised businesses in the area to be vigilant. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Taxi and private hire drivers were given detector pens by licensing officers, along with advice on how to avoid illegal notes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The pens contain a special ink which writes in yellow and then dries invisible on genuine banknotes, but leaves a permanent mark on counterfeit bills. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Drivers working busy shifts often work in poor visibility late at night, and are usually serving customers in a hurry – meaning they can often be more susceptible to people looking to use counterfeit money. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Police and licensing officers have advised drivers to always exercise extra attention when given large-value notes, and always check for watermarks and metallic threads. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor David Kelly, Lead Member for Planning and Public Protection said “Counterfeit notes have a very detrimental effect on the local economy, and we want to help where we can to prevent their circulation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Also, the majority of Taxi and Private Hire Drivers are self-employed or work for small businesses, so it’s important that they not become the victims of people using counterfeit notes – it’s effectively a loss of income for them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“So I’m very pleased that we can work in partnership with North Wales Police to help drivers combat this illegal activity.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sgt Steve Owens said: “North Wales Police believes joint working with Wrexham Council and a zero-tolerance approach to this type of criminality is the way forward , so we are glad to be supporting this latest initiative.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The pens are paid for by a joint campaign between North Wales Police and Wrexham County Borough Council, and are available for free by contacting the Licensing Service on 01978 315786, or by e-mailing licensingservice@wrexham.gov.uk. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​