On 1 February 2026, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary issued an urgent warning to shopkeepers and pub owners in Fleet, Hampshire, after several counterfeit banknotes were used in the town.
Police reported that high-quality forgeries of polymer £20 and £50 notes were passed to businesses during the first weekend of February 2026 (incident reports centre on 30 January–1 February). The forgeries are polymer (plastic) copies designed to mimic genuine Bank of England notes.
The Hampshire Alert messaging system notified local traders that criminals are targeting busy staff in high-street shops and pubs during peak trading times. Hampshire Constabulary issued the alert on 1 February 2026 asking businesses to be vigilant.
The Bank of England advises checking key security features such as the holographic images that change when a note is tilted and the large see-through window. The Bank also notes that detector pens do not reliably detect counterfeits on polymer notes, so retailers should check the window, holograms and other ‘look, feel, tilt’ features instead.
According to the National Crime Agency, organised groups sometimes travel between towns to spend counterfeit notes in batches. Hampshire Constabulary said retailers can refuse a note if they have doubts about its authenticity. The Bank of England also states it cannot reimburse businesses for counterfeit banknotes; counterfeit notes should be reported to the police.
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