The Derbyshire Constabulary has warned residents and shopkeepers in Swadlincote to check their cash after police announced on 3 February 2026 that three men had been arrested in connection with counterfeit £20 notes. The announcement followed several reports of bogus notes being spent at small businesses and markets across the county.
Police say the suspects targeted shops on the High Street and traders at the Delph marketplace, using the fraudulent polymer notes to buy low-cost items and receive genuine cash as change. Officers describe some of the counterfeit notes as high quality and able to mimic the polymer feel of genuine Bank of England notes, making them difficult to spot without a closer inspection.
Officers from the Swadlincote Safer Neighbourhood Team are visiting local businesses to distribute guides on how to identify counterfeit banknotes. The Bank of England advises checking key security features — for example, tilting the note to view holograms and metallic foils, inspecting the see-through windows and feeling for raised print — to help verify genuine notes.
Local police have urged retailers to refuse a note if they have any doubt, to avoid being left out of pocket, and to report suspects or suspicious notes to Derbyshire Constabulary. CrimeRate data for Swadlincote shows higher recorded offences in categories that include theft and fraud in the 12 months to November 2025, underlining why officers are asking businesses to be vigilant.
The force’s warning echoes wider reporting that counterfeit notes have been used to pay for private sales arranged via online marketplaces. The BBC and Derbyshire Police have warned the public to be cautious and to check notes carefully, particularly around busy trading periods such as the winter season.
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