A quick-thinking Nottinghamshire taxi driver has been praised by police for his actions after a passenger tried to pay him with counterfeit cash.
The unnamed taxi driver picked up a 23-year-old man on Nottingham Road at around 11.30pm on Tuesday (13 October).
During the drive, the man kept changing his route, prompting the driver to ask how he intended on paying for the trip.
The man then handed over a £20 note, but after taking a closer look he grew suspicious that it was a fake, so he challenged the passenger who then handed more counterfeit notes.
After realising that all the notes appeared to be fakes, the taxi driver then took the customer straight to the police station on Radford Road.
Police then subsequently carried out a search of the man’s home address where they discovered a ‘Rambo knife’ under his mattress.
The eagle-eyed taxi driver spotted the fake notes (Nottinghamshire Police)
Cops didn’t find any other counterfeit notes but did seize a cannabis cultivation kit.
The 23-year-old, who has not been named, was arrested on suspicion of using counterfeit currency and possessing an offensive weapon in a private place.
Meanwhile, the driver has been praised for his ‘fantastic’ actions.
Neighbourhood Inspector Liz Gaskin, who covers the Radford area, said: “This was a fantastic piece of work by a Nottingham taxi driver.
“As soon as they noticed the man’s suspicious behaviour in the back of the vehicle and saw that the money was fake, they decided the end of his journey would be a night in our custody.
“We were of course happy to help and following a search of the individual’s property uncovered further concerning behaviour, which included taking a dangerous weapon out of circulation.”
Earlier this year, Nottinghamshire Police were one of several forces across the UK to issue a warning about counterfeit notes.
Leicestershire Police and cops in St Ives, Cornwall, also shared warnings about an increase in fake notes being used after several reports of people being given the dodgy banknotes when selling things online.
How to check if a note is fake
If you do end up with a fake note, the Bank of England won’t exchange it for you, so it’s best to check before you accept any cash.
Modern Bank of England banknotes have several ways to help you spot a fake (Joe Giddens – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Check the window
Genuine English banknotes feature a transparent window with a portrait of either Queen Elizabeth II or King Charles III inside.
Around the edge of the window, you should be able to see the value of the note and the words Bank of England twice.
Tilt your note
Notes also contain a silver foil patch that has a hologram. When you tilt the note, the words on the patch should change to show the value and the word ‘pounds’ – for example, it will switch between ‘Ten’ and ‘Pounds’. If the image doesn’t cleanly switch between the two, it could be a fake.
Feel the note
Real notes have a raised print that you should be able to feel under your fingertips. The words Bank of England and the note’s value in the bottom right-hand corner should be textured.
Compare it to another
If in doubt, whip out a note that you know is genuine and compare the two.
Look out for colours, how clear the print is, and how it feels – it can be easier to spot differences when you’re able to compare it.
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