Fake £20 notes found circulating in Banbury
People in Banbury are warned to be on their guard after fake £20 notes have been discovered circulating throughout the town.
In the past two weeks, police have seized more than £400 in fake twenties from three of Banbury's
licensed premises.
Sgt Bryan Percival, from the town neighbourhood team, said: “We arrested two men at the Fleur De Lys in Broad Street on the 24 January, who were detained by door staff after they allegedly tried to pay with forged notes.
“At the time we believed this to be an isolated incident; however, a short while later we discovered that another premise had been targeted and another discovered last week following a pub watch meeting.
“We believe that pubs and bars are being targeted as they are often busy, darkly lit venues, where staff are trying to serve customers as quickly as possible.”
All of the forged notes have been £20 and of a varying degree of quality. Police have given advice on how to spot them:
- The metal strip that runs through the forged notes is painted on in silver paint and does not run through the note.
- The type of paper used is noticeably different to that of genuine bank notes
- The Harlequin design in the top middle section of the Queen side of the note where it says Bank of England is missing from all the notes (visible only with UV light).
- A genuine note does not absorb the liquid from a UV marker pen.
The two men, aged 23 and 24, have been released on police bail to return to Banbury police station on 1 March.
Anyone with information on the notes is urged to contact the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Line on 0845 8 505 505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Click here to see a video Sgt Percival has created with hints and tips of how to spot a fake £20 note.