The Virtual Pub
Come Inside... => Saloon Bar => Topic started by: Grumpmeister on May 30, 2007, 04:07:09 PM
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Granted bank notes all over the world can have anything and everything on them but surely people would be able to realise a novelty note when they see one? for crying out loud, even an American could tell the difference between Disney Dollars and normal currency so surely people here can do the same thing.
Two shops were raided under forgery laws after selling novelty bank notes with pictures of cartoon characters.
The notes, which were taken from shops in Blackburn and Darwen, showed pictures of cartoons, Dr Who and a football team - instead of the Queen.
But trading standards officials in Lancashire were concerned they could have been mistaken for real money.
Lets look at some of these notes:
(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnewsimg.bbc.co.uk%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2F42986000%2Fjpg%2F_42986315_money1.jpg&hash=c280fd74a44dda93d1093b324a6c818ea8dd9ddf)
and
(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnewsimg.bbc.co.uk%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2F42986000%2Fjpg%2F_42986321_money3.jpg&hash=cbd381594985ea36865a0a4973d054195f945517)
Bank of England rules state that written permission is needed "for all possible reproductions".
Officials seized hundreds of the notes, which were in ?5, ?10, ?20 and ?50 denominations and were being sold for ?1 for four notes.
The Queen's head had been replaced with a variety of pictures from Dr Who, Star Wars, Winnie the Pooh and Barbie.
But, although they were meant as fun items, the council is not treating them as a joke.
Councillor John Slater, Blackburn and Darwen Borough Council, executive member for citizens and consumer rights, said: "Part of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act makes it a criminal offence to reproduce banknotes in any way, without the written consent of the Bank of England.
"These items were clearly intended as novelties and the traders bought them in good faith purely as fun products, not realising they were breaking the law.
"We have explained the law to them, alerted the police and will destroy the seized notes. I'd urge people not to buy novelty banknotes at all," he added.
Trading standards officers will now investigate the source of the notes and decide what further action to take. [/quote]
And just for snoopy, the link eyes:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/6703797.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/6703797.stm)
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Please tell me nobody could be THAT thick
I'll tell you but would you believe me? whistle:
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I know but I'm trying to cling to that last shred of optimism I have/had sad24:
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Please tell me nobody could be THAT thick
It depends ? are you referring to people that might think they were buying a real ?20 note for ?1, people that might accept the notes as real money or the Trading Standards wankers that have nothing better to do than seize them?
It strikes me that this fits into the same category as far too many crimes these days ? easy to prosecute. Clearly, it is simpler to prosecute a local shopkeeper selling these fakes openly on the counter than tracking down gangs passing millions of ??s of accurate forgeries.
Yet I?m guessing the result is the same ? another box ticked, another crime solved ? another target met. noooo: