TPAV Journal - The Police Association Victoria

COVER STORY
Stay informed about
counterfeit cash
The advice in this article is produced for the benefit
of TPAV members by the Reserve bank of Australia.
Australia has experienced low levels of counterfeit
activity for many years both in an absolute sense
− with fewer than 10,000 counterfeits detected in
circulation each year − and relative to experiences
in other countries.
However, with the proliferation of affordable
digital technologies, Australia’s rising currency
makes it more vulnerable to counterfeiting
attacks. This vulnerability was highlighted in
2010, when around 18,000 counterfeits from one
production source were detected in circulation.
18 Protect Represent Support. www.tpav.org.au
for some time now, the Reserve
bank of Australia (RbA) has been
working closely with the AfP
and state police on a number
of initiatives that will assist the
law enforcement community in fighting
counterfeit crime. The police investigation
in 2010 resulted in the arrests of several
people and the seizure of more than 1,800
counterfeits. The effectiveness of these
initiatives highlights the important role
that the police play in preserving public
confidence in Australia’s currency.
In the first instance, the RbA’s Counterfeit
Examination Laboratory can assist police
investigations by providing considerable
information about the counterfeits that
have been detected and seized in Australia.
This includes information about the
techniques used to produce the counterfeits,
how the counterfeits can be readily
identified including the serial numbers used
and information relating to where and how
the counterfeits have been passed.
There are many other ways, however, that
the RbA is able to provide support and
assistance. Over the past year, for example,
RbA counterfeit examiners have provided
64 witness statements and, in some
instances, have testified in court.