The number of counterfeit banknotes in circulation has more than doubled in the past year

Brits are being urged to stay vigilant with their money as the volume of fake banknotes circulating has surged dramatically. Even worse, if you don’t spot them fast enough, you could lose out financially – and potentially face criminal charges.

Fresh data from the National Crime Agency revealed that last year saw more than double the amount of counterfeit notes in circulation compared to 2024. Particularly, £20 and £10 notes have emerged as the most frequently forged denominations across the UK.

Manufacturing counterfeit notes, knowingly passing them on or possessing fake currency with the intention to deliberately use or pass it off as genuine constitutes a criminal offence. The maximum penalty can reach up to 10 years behind bars and seizure of assets.

That said, some individuals may end up with dodgy notes in their possession without having any idea they’re fake. This risks leaving them seriously out of pocket, as counterfeit banknotes are “worthless” according to the Bank of England, which cannot compensate you if you realise you’ve accepted a fake note after the fact.

BBC Breakfast’s probe into the issue uncovered the genuine impact this can have on people who unknowingly receive “worthless” cash. One postmaster interviewed by the programme, Imran Khan, described how some small businesses may have customers paying in cash, but when the owners attempt to bank it, the post office’s machine “spits it out and says no, this is a fake.”

Receiving a counterfeit note by mistake is fairly uncommon. The Bank of England points out that at any given moment, there are approximately 5 billion authentic UK banknotes in circulation, set against the most recent estimated figure of 200,000 fake notes, reports the Mirror.

Advertisement

While you won’t receive compensation if you’re stuck with a counterfeit note, the crucial step to protecting your money’s worth is verifying whether it’s fake before you accept it. Should you inadvertently take a forged note, the cash’s value may be gone but you can hand the counterfeit note over to the police, where it can be assessed by the National Crime Agency and the Bank of England.

Several security features that might reveal whether your banknote is authentic:

• There is a silver foil patch at the bottom that reads ‘pounds’ when tilted to one side and the value of the note when tilted to the other
• A 3D image of the coronation crown appears above the main see-through window.
• On the front of the notes, you can feel raised print
• There is a large see-through window with either King Charles III or Queen Elizabeth II

Additional security features are available on the Bank of England website to assist you in confirming if your cash is legitimate. The Bank of England also encourages the public to flag up any online advertising they encounter claiming to supply counterfeit notes. It states: “Counterfeiting directly funds organised crime.

“It hurts the UK economy by creating losses for businesses, which ultimately affects the cost of things that we buy. It also affects the pocket of anyone who receives a counterfeit note, as they are worthless. If you report counterfeiting to the police, you are helping with investigations and alerting them to a problem in their area. This means that they can take action to protect your community.”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rob Reiner’s son Nick Reiner is seeking unpaid money from a trust his parents established for him, saying he needs it to help in his defense against charges that he killed them.

A petition filed by the 32-year-old Nick Reiner’s civil attorneys in a Los Angeles County court on Monday says that trustees overseeing the funds have denied them to him without legal justification, and he needs and should get them now.

“Nick loved his parents, and he is devastated by their deaths. But the facts about what did and did not happen to them are not at issue in this Trust litigation,” the petition says. “Like anyone accused of a crime, Nick is presumed innocent, and he is entitled to mount his defense with the resources that are lawfully his own.”

The director and Hollywood luminary Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer and producer Michele Singer Reiner, were stabbed to death in their home in the upscale Brentwood section of Los Angeles on Dec. 14. Nick Reiner was arrested hours later and has since pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder.

Reiner retained high-profile private lawyer Alan Jackson to represent him, but less than a month later Jackson left the case for reasons he said he couldn’t share. The new filing reveals that Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy Reiner, had initially agreed to pay for Jackson, but reversed course.

In a declaration included with the petition, Jackson said “my firm stands ready, willing, and able to resume representation of Mr. Reiner” if the funds become available.

The filing says that apart from the larger Reiner family trust, which is not at issue, Rob and Michele Reiner established smaller individual trusts for Nick Reiner and his siblings. It says they left “unambiguous instructions” in Nick Reiner’s trust, established in 1993, that he was to receive half its money when he turned 30 and the rest at 35.

But, the filing says, Reiner never received the funds he was entitled to at 30, and that the trustee overseeing them since February — attorney Paul R. Kanin — has given “a shifting series of excuses and justifications” to deny Reiner the money, including concerns about Reiner’s competence that have no bearing on a payout that is mandatory.

Reiner says he should also get the money he was to receive at 35 immediately because his defense and his need for basic necessities in jail require it.

The petition says the trust has at least $1.5 million in assets, but that Kanin will not share the exact amount of its value.

Kanin did not immediately respond to an after-hours email seeking comment.

Proceedings in Reiner’s murder case are moving slowly. He is scheduled to return to court for a pretrial hearing in September. He is eligible for the death penalty, but District Attorney Nathan Hochman has said his office has not yet decided whether to seek it.

Authorities have said nothing about possible motives, and leaks in the case have been virtually nonexistent on both sides. A court order has kept most details of the autopsy secret. Many of the most basic questions about the killing remain unanswered publicly.

On the day he left the case, Jackson, speaking outside court, declared adamantly that “pursuant to the laws of California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.”

In April, Jake Reiner gave his first detailed account of the experience of losing his parents and having his brother at the center of it, calling it “a living nightmare” that is “too devastating to comprehend.”

Rob Reiner was a prolific director whose work included some of the most memorable and endlessly watchable movies of the 1980s and ’90s. His credits included “This is Spinal Tap,” “Stand By Me,” “A Few Good Men,” and “When Harry Met Sally… ,” during the production of which he met photographer Michele Singer. They wed soon after and were married for 36 years.

Debenhams Group has announced a new licensing partnership with Revolution Beauty to develop and distribute beauty and fragrance products across several of its brands, including PrettyLittleThing, Karen Millen and boohooMAN

Debenhams has announced a new licensing agreement with Revolution Beauty that will see them develop beauty and fragrance products across their brands. The new partnership license is set to combine Debenham’s Group strength and reach with Revolution Beauty’s expertise in developing, manufacturing and distributing beauty products.

The first collections are expected to launch ahead of Christmas and will include fragrance and gifting ranges for PrettyLittleThing, Karen Millen and boohooMAN. Further launches are then planned to appear across a number of Debenhams Group brands.

It is proposed then that shoppers will be able to buy products from Debenham Group channels and selected retail partners. Dan Finley, CEO of Debenhams Group, said they look forward to seeing the first launch of the beauty and fragrance products.

Dan said: “We’ve been clear that we see significant global licensing opportunities for our brands, and this agreement with Revolution Beauty is a direct expression of our asset-lite strategy in action. Beauty is one of the most compelling category opportunities available to us and Revolution Beauty has the relationships and capability to bring tailored collections to market across the full portfolio. We look forward to seeing the first launches come to life.

“The agreement is structured as a royalty-based license, where Revolution Beauty assumes full responsibility for manufacturing, product development and worldwide distribution and will pay to Debenhams Group an industry-standard royalty based on sales of the products developed.

“Debenhams Group retains brand approval rights over all products, packaging, marketing, and retail channel decisions. This transaction is consistent with Debenhams Group’s strategy of generating significant recurring royalty income from its IP portfolio through global licensing opportunities, extending its brands into high-growth adjacent categories, and accelerating its transition to an asset-lite business model.”

Tom Allsworth, CEO of Revolution Beauty, said they have already had positive feedback about their concept fragrance products. Tom said: “We’re delighted to formally announce our partnership with Debenhams Group.

“The team at Revolution is already at an advanced stage in developing fragrance products that will launch nationally and internationally through a number of our retail partners. The early reaction to the concepts we have tested has been exceptionally positive.

“Since returning to the business last year, our relationship with Debenhams Group has been completely reset and it is gratifying to see that reflected in a formal partnership between the two businesses.

“By combining the strength of Debenhams Group’s brands with Revolution’s expertise, we believe these licences can become a significant growth opportunity for both businesses.”

EDITORS NOTE: PIC BLURRED TO PROTECT IDENTITY A police cordon at the scene of a stabbing outside apartments in the Kinnaird Avenue area of north Belfast. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said officers were called to Kinnaird Avenue around 10.30pm on Monday and the injured man was taken to hospital. Another man was arrested in connection with the incident and taken into custody, police confirmed. Picture date: Tuesday June 9, 2026.

PA Wire

The man caused around £50,000 worth of damage to the flat he was renting

An arsonist barricaded himself into his flat before setting fire to it on Christmas Day. Police officers and firefighters were called to the Whittlesey home of Eric Jordan, on December 25, 2023, after fire and smoke were spotted coming from the first floor flat.

The 55-year-old, who was inside the flat at the time, blocked the downstairs entrance with a leather armchair before starting the fire in the stairwell using a bottle of barbecue lighter fluid.

The 55-year-old, of Scaldgate, Whittlesey, Peterborough, suffered serious injuries after falling from the first-floor window. He was later arrested on suspicion of arson after being treated by paramedics at the scene.

DC Chris Herring, who investigated, said that Jordan put himself, as well as his neighbours, in “serious danger”. he caused around £50,000 worth of damage. Jordan, was jailed for one year and four months on Friday, June 5, at Huntingdon Law Courts after admitting to arson.

DC Herring said in full: “Not only could the consequences of Jordan’s actions have been fatal, but he also caused around £50,000 of damage to the flat he was renting at the time.

“A family of four, who were trying to enjoy their Christmas morning, also had to be evacuated from their nearby home for their own safety.

“The fire was deliberate and put himself, as well as his neighbours, in serious danger, so I am pleased he is now behind bars for the damage and distress he caused.”

Raducanu had looked far from her best in her past two matches following illness but, 16 days after her first-round exit at Roland Garros, the Briton made afresh on Andy Murray Arena.

The 2021 US Open champion held a commanding 3-0 lead before rain halted play – but that would not disrupt her rhythm.

She captured the first set without reply after just 20 minutes on court, winning 25 of the 31 points played – hitting 11 winners and just two unforced errors.

Raducanu maintained that excellent level to begin the second set with a break of serve – although she would not have it entirely her own way.

A Queen’s quarter-finalist last year, Raducanu was hampered by double-faults as she allowed Blinkova back in – with four successive breaks of serve tying the set at three games apiece.

However, Raducanu broke again, courtesy of a fortuitous net cord, to set up the chance to serve out the match, and she wore a beaming smile in the sunshine as a closing backhand winner down the line on her second match point was met by huge cheers.

Writing ‘back home’ with a heart on a TV camera lens before exiting the court, Raducanu will return to face either Romanian Sorana Cirstea or Australia’s Maddison Inglis in the second round.

“As e-bike usage in Westminster continues to grow, working with Cllr Swaddle and his team on a collective approach on a localised, ward level will enable us to tackle hotspot areas, deliver parking bays and ensure that our service works for everyone in Westminster, whether they are a cyclist or not.

Inspectors from the care scrutiny body visited Fullarton Care Home in Ayr Road, in May with their findings now published.

Officers at the Care Inspectorate have seen improvements to an Irvine nursing home, according to a fresh report.

Inspectors from the care scrutiny body visited Fullarton Care Home in Ayr Road, in May with their findings now published.

The visit to the service was said to be an “unannounced follow up inspection.”

It looked at the progress made by the service in responding to requirements made “as a result of a complaint investigation.”

During a previous inspection the Care Inspectorate raised concerns over respect for people’s “dignity and human rights.”

Another concern related to the approach to supporting people’s skin care needs, which according to the previous report, needed to be “improved.”

A review of the inventory system relating to people’s clothing and personal property was also another requirement made by inspectors.

Among the key messages from the latest inspection the Care Inspectorate said the service had made “good progress” in developing systems of audit to ensure “effective oversight” and management of people’s skin care and prescribed creams.

And improvements to the management of people’s personal clothing and property “had been made.”

Fullarton Care Home is registered to provide a care home service to a maximum of 90 older people. The provider is HC-One Oval Limited.

The Care Inspectorate report revealed that staff training records showed that e-learning training on ‘Dignity – the one who matters’ had been provided to staff “across all departments in the service.”

And the manager reviewed the service approach to how people’s personal property was managed, and staff were provided with “additional guidance” on completing inventory records.

The report continues: “A reminder regarding the completion of clothing and property inventories was shared at the relatives’ meeting, with the minutes circulated by email and displayed throughout the home.

“In addition, the manager has developed a suggested clothing list for people seeking admission to the service. This supports effective planning by helping to ensure people have an adequate supply of clothing and enables families to maintain an ongoing record of items provided.”

The report adds: “Overall, we were satisfied that the service had strengthened its systems for managing people’s personal clothing and property, and that effective steps had been taken to ensure staff followed good practice in relation to accountability, record keeping and promoting people’s dignity.”

GP and TV doctor Dr Amir Khan is urging women in their 40s and 50s not to ignore a lesser-known symptom

Women born between 1966 and 1981 are being advised to pay attention to a lesser-known symptom that may be associated with menopause and perimenopause. In a video posted to his Instagram followers on Monday, television GP Dr Amir Khan drew attention to the link between menopause and frozen shoulder, warning that numerous women might wrongly attribute the symptoms to the ageing process.

Frozen shoulder develops when the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and constricted, resulting in pain, stiffness and a progressive reduction in mobility. While the condition has been well-documented by medical professionals, Dr Khan noted that experts are now exploring the potential role hormones might have in causing it.

In the video, he stated: “Did you know that frozen shoulder is much more common in women during perimenopause and menopause? We used to think it was just bad luck, but now we’re realising hormones may play a much bigger role than we once thought.”

Dr Amir revealed that frozen shoulder occurs most frequently in women aged 45 to 60. A prominent theory focuses on declining oestrogen levels, which possesses anti-inflammatory qualities and supports healthy connective tissues, including tendons, ligaments and joint capsules. As oestrogen levels shift and drop during the menopause, researchers believe the shoulder capsule may become increasingly susceptible to inflammation and the build-up of scar tissue, potentially triggering the pain and stiffness associated with the condition.

Dr Amir explained that scientists are still working to understand why the shoulder seems particularly prone to this. He pointed out, however, that the joint has the greatest range of motion in the entire body and depends on a delicate capsule to function correctly, which could make it more vulnerable to such changes.

The NHS states that frozen shoulder develops slowly and can result in pain and stiffness lasting several months or even years. It is most prevalent in those aged between 40 and 60, with women more likely to be affected than men.

Studies have also identified a connection between frozen shoulder and diabetes. Diabetes UK reports that people living with diabetes are up to five times more likely to develop the condition compared to those without the disease.

Despite the significant discomfort it can cause, Dr Amir urged women not to simply accept deteriorating shoulder pain as an inevitable part of growing older.

“The most important thing is that if you’re in your 40s or 50s and develop shoulder pain that’s gradually getting stiffer rather than better, don’t just put up with it,” he said. “Don’t say it’s just down to ageing. It could be frozen shoulder and getting the right diagnosis early can help you access the treatments and exercises that may improve your symptoms.”

The NHS recommends that anyone suffering from ongoing shoulder pain, stiffness or restricted arm movement should seek medical guidance, particularly if these symptoms are starting to impact their day-to-day life.

SIDON, Lebanon (AP) — Christian religious leaders from Lebanon’s southern port city of Tyre called on the international community and Lebanese officials on Tuesday to act quickly to prevent Israel from attacking the Christian district of the city, as airstrikes on nearby neighborhoods killed eight people and wounded dozens of others.

The Israeli military has issued an evacuation warning for the port city, including the Christian quarter, which has been spared so far.

The statement by the Christian leaders was from George Iskandar, the metropolitan archbishop of Tyre for the Melkite Greek Catholic Church; Elias Kfoury, the Greek Orthodox metropolitan of Tyre, Sidon and Dependencies; and Charbel Abdullah, the archeparch of the Maronite Catholic Archeparchy of Tyre.

The warning from Israel’s military prompted hundreds of people to flee the Christian district along the Mediterranean coast, while members of the Civil Defense evacuated older people to safer areas, the state-run National News Agency said.

Cars packed with mattresses, luggage and household belongings stretched for kilometers along Lebanon’s coastal highway, as residents fled Tyre following the latest Israeli warning. Traffic ground to a halt as families crammed whatever they could into vehicles, with carpets protruding from rooftops, and trunks were left partially open to accommodate furniture and personal belongings.

“After the warnings in Tyre, we left. We picked up and left,” said Ali Bahar, who was traveling with his wife and three children in a car loaded with possessions.

“Where should we go? There is nowhere to go,” Bahar said. “We will end up in the streets. We are heading to Sidon.”

Nearby, Hussein Darwish sat in the gridlock after packing his vehicle with what he could carry.

“We left to be reassured and safe,” he said.

An Israeli airstrike Tuesday in another neighborhood in Tyre killed eight people and wounded 32 others, according to the Health Ministry.

The three Christian leaders called on the international community and Lebanese leaders to “take immediate and serious action to spare the old quarter of Tyre from destruction and human tragedies.”

The Israeli warning to Tyre came after Israel and Iran traded fire following Israel’s targeting of Hezbollah in Beirut on Sunday, triggering heightened tensions in the Middle East and fears that the conflict could spread further.

Over the past few weeks, Israel’s airstrikes have caused wide destruction in Tyre, the fourth-largest city in the country.

Considered one of the oldest metropolises of the world, Tyre has several archaeological sites, some of them submerged. The city was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

“The old city is not merely a residential area,” the clergy said in their statement. “It is the historical and human heart of Tyre, home to thousands of civilians, including families, children, and the elderly.”

They said that the old quarter also holds a rich cultural, religious and civilizational heritage dating back centuries.

“Any targeting or destruction of this neighborhood would constitute a humanitarian and national catastrophe with irreversible consequences,” they warned.

Kfoury said that the ongoing conflict isn’t only a war on Hezbollah.

“The war is against all of Lebanon, not just one particular group within Lebanon,” he said.

“They are destroying Lebanon. Period,” Kfoury said about the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war that broke out on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel, two days after the U.S. and Iran began attacking Iran on Feb. 28.

He said that the fighting should stop because it’s a “destructive war.”

Last week, Israel warned the Christian neighborhoods in Tyre that Hezbollah members were among them. Many Lebanese Shiite Muslims fled to those areas over the past two weeks, because they were spared from the aerial bombardment along the Mediterranean coast.

After last week’s warning, the Lebanese army deployed to the Christian district of Tyre in an effort to prevent Israeli attacks there and to show that Hezbollah has no armed presence in the area.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, posted on X that as the military warned days ago that Hezbollah members were working inside the Christian district, the Israeli military “will have to act against their terrorist activities in the neighborhood soon.”

Adraee said that any building used by Hezbollah for military purposes “may be subject to targeting.”

The latest Israel-Hezbollah in Lebanon has killed around 3,500 people and displaced more than 1.2 million.

___

Bassem Mroue reported from Beirut.