Sometimes our cash-in-transit vehicles get in the way, parking in obstructive or inconvenient places. We know this is an annoyance and we are working hard not to trouble the public any more than is necessary. In order to try and avoid parking infringements we have put in place a dedicated team to look at alternative parking practices and liaise closely with the British Security Industry Association (BSIA).

Delivering cash is a dangerous job and the riskiest part is the time that our crews spend outside, carrying cash from the customer to our secure vehicles or the other way around. As a result, we try to reduce the risks – to our crew, customers and to the public - by parking as close as possible to the customer’s premises as we physically can, so our crews only ever have to walk a short distance. In 2015 there were 74 attacks on G4S crews in the UK of which 45 involved the use of weapons.

Many of our customers are banks and retailers who tend to be located on busy high streets. Cash is, and will continue to be, a vital part of daily life in the UK’s cities, towns and villages and ensuring there is enough cash in circulation is the role of companies like G4S. A whole range of local businesses such as hotels, market stall owners, restaurants, bars and pubs need to be able to access cash readily so that they can operate smoothly or at all.

Our route planners work with our clients and local authorities to map where our vehicles park whenever possible, so that we cause minimum disruption. In some instances councils have given G4S special dispensation to use restricted parking places. Most businesses don’t have off-street parking or secure loading bays. Where this is the case, we have to make alternative arrangements and sometimes as a last resort, it might mean we have to park on a double-yellow line or in other restricted zones.

When this is the case it is because the safety of our crew, customers and the public comes first. Parking infringements by our vehicles are reducing and we have more than halved the number of parking tickets issued to our vans since 2012. We know there is more work to be done and are working hard to try and reduce this figure further. G4S Cash Solutions secures around one third of all cash in the UK and transports approximately £300bn per year. On any day of the week, several million pounds will be travelling around the UK in G4S vehicles. 

Parking close to where the cash needs to get to is just one of the ways to reduce the risk of an attack and keep our crews and the public safe. We continue to put in place and develop many security features to deter potential criminals from attempting to stage a robbery including armouring our vehicles, CCTV and the inclusion of satellite tracking technology, all monitored from our National Control Centre.

Our cash security boxes have a variety of different protection features such as glue, and ink staining which when triggered, renders the bank notes inside unusable, and the use of SmartWater helps Police and their forensic investigators to link perpetrators to specific cash stolen.

We continually work very closely with the Police and ‘SaferCash’, which is a security initiative aimed in reducing the number of attacks on cash-in-transit couriers through the effective sharing of intelligence between the cash in transit industry and Police forces nationwide.

Please be assured we are doing our utmost to park in places that cause the least inconvenience. We are doing our best to make sure that ATMs are filled regularly and retailers have the change needed when you purchase something. If we do get in your way we sincerely apologise and hope that you can bear with us.

Head of Operational Risk for G4S Cash Solutions in the UK, Gareth Skinner is responsible for managing the risks our cash crews face on a daily basis.