UV Lighting Does the Job says Crime Prevention Products

Leading security specialist Crime Prevention Products advises that possessions and currency in the home, office or retail store can be safeguarded for very little money. Loss prevention and recovery is made simple through UV (ultra violet) light detection, which is being increasingly used by financial organisations and retailers.

UV property marking and counterfeit detection work by leaving an invisible identification mark that will be illuminated by UV lamps. Products such as the convenient handheld UV Torch have both an ultraviolet light and a white light. Used together, they significantly prevent the increasing number of forgeries on bank notes by allowing people to check authenticity of the continuous metallic/plastic strip, the watermark, and more importantly, it will illuminate the hidden ultraviolet marking built into the note. It is increasingly being supplied to the staff of banks, organisations, agencies and retailers who need the facility to detect not only counterfeit money, but also documents and credit cards.

Through the use of UV fluorescent inks in currency production, it is possible to print bank notes with a mark that is to reproduce with colour copying and printing techniques.

In addition, special Property Marking UV pens contain ink that will glow when exposed to the light of a UV Lamp while leaving a seemingly invisible mark on nearly any surface without spoiling or damage it. This practice significantly increases the chance of identifying stolen goods for recovery and potential prosecution.

The UV Torch however must be used with the right knowledge for effective counterfeit detection:

· A genuine bank note should not fluoresce right across the banknote. Only the number 5-10 or 20 should fluoresce when passed under the U.V. light. Note that the £50 note should not fluoresce at all.

· Some forgers soak their fake notes in U.V. protection fluids such as sun tan lotion, thus supposedly blocking out the U.V. light reflection. Sun blocking products are in fact are not 100% U.V. proof - the counterfeit banknote will still fluoresce slightly as well as feel greasy to the touch and look very fragile. Also, blocking the UV will block the watermark.

· Many counterfeit watermarks are bleached into the paper. UV lights will fluoresce this bleached watermark, but would not fluoresce a genuine watermark.

· Only white light will display a watermark, so it is important to have a dual detection product with both UV and white light functionality.

· Under white light, a continuous metal strip should be seen if the note is genuine. With a forgery you can usually see a dashed line where it is painted on the outside of the note.

· All credit cards have a fluorescent logo. Newer issues of Driving Licences, I.D. Cards and Passports have fluorescent designs on them too.


Terry Rattee, owner of Crime Prevention Products commented, 'In this current economy, financial loss to banks and retailers because of counterfeit currency is more serious than ever. UV Torches, with the strap that keeps them conveniently to hand, are a fast, simplified way to check for forgeries and put criminals out of business.'