Red stains on UK banknotes

[Segilla]

I've seen notices in Post Offices about these, which are marked to deter theft.
It's by no means uncommon to see the odd one, stained on its edge, but today when I withdrew �200 frron a cash machune there were three.

I assume that I am supposed to surender these, but if so, surely the bank which loads the machine has a duty to do this and not pass it on.
I can understamnd that such a task would be very time-consumi for banks.
Comments welcome..

[PrinceRainie]

Sometimes notes are marked by the banks when being counted.....so long as its not covered in the stuff or defaced then its ok to use

[HOWLING.NORM]

At some stage these notes have been stained by an anti-theft device, but then successfully laundered (somehow exchanged for good money - not physically washed). Your best bet would be to pay them back into your bank account - via a cash machine if you can. Apart from the notes that are completely covered, and no doubt burned, the ones which are stained on the edge are easy to change in busy places such as Bookmakers so I think the criminals get a good proportion of their loot. Incidently, there is no way that this sort of marking is done deliberately in the banks, this tosh has been mentioned before.