Written question asked by Stephen Phillips (Conservative) on Friday, 2 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 March 2012. It was answered by Chloe Smith (Conservative) on Monday, 12 March 2012 on behalf of the Treasury.

Coinage: Counterfeit Manufacturing

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to tackle the counterfeiting of (a) the pound sterling and (b) the euro in the UK.

Answer: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.The National Central Office for the Suppression of Counterfeit Currency and Protected Coins, which sits within the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), is the UK's centre for identifying trends in counterfeiting activity. It analyses thousands of reports from police forces and the Bank of England each year to help protect the UK against the damage caused by counterfeit bank notes and coins.Levels of counterfeit euros discovered in this country are very low compared to countries which have adopted the euro as currency. However, where they are identified SOCA will take appropriate action including liaising with European counterparts.Everybody convicted of producing counterfeit currency in the last five years in the UK has received a substantial custodial sentence and on each occasion a serious crime prevention order has been issued, which inhibits their ability to procure material and machinery that could be used in the production of counterfeits.

Secondary information