Essex FSB Crime Against Business spokesman, Mr Ken Wickham, said: "We have had several cases recently where forged bank notes have been circulated, most recently in Brentwood Town Centre, and in such cases it is the retailer who bears the loss as the banks refuse to do so.
"The FSB is keen to work with Essex Police to minimise those losses to our members by alerting them when forged notes are being circulated in their area.
"That is why we have contacted Essex Police asking them to send us an email with details whenever they record a case of forged bank notes being used so that we can send out an email alert to our members so they can reduce the risk of becoming victims of these criminals."
Mr Wickham stressed that FSB members are encouraged to follow a four point plan when an alert is received.
The plan requires that:
- they make sure they and their staff check notes they are given to ensure, as far as possible, that they are genuine -
- if they are suspicious of any particular note, to alert the police using 999 as soon as it is safe to do so -
- they make sure that as soon as the person giving them the note leaves their premises they write down a detailed description of the person and the direction they took so the police have the best possible information when they arrive -
- they make sure that any CCTV cameras on the premises are transmitting clear images and cover the area near any till(s) so the police can have good CCTV images to help them.
The FSB is keen to point out that by working together with Essex Police they can jointly reduce the number of businesses that become the victims of crime and, they hope, drive the forgers away from Essex for fear of the far greater risk of getting caught for their crimes.
The Essex Region of the FSB represents small businesses in the areas covered by Essex County Council and the London Boroughs of Havering and Redbridge.
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