Ian Hislop's series about protests on R4

[KathyBeale]

Just listening to this new programme, which is very interesting, and taking notes about effective methods of protest. You know, just in case.

Something that tickled my fancy was the mention of writing protest messages on bank notes. It's apparently effective because it's anonymous, spreads widely, and is obviously very easy to do.

I thought perhaps writing "women don't have penises" on £10 notes might be fun...

Notes deposited in car parking machines and self checkouts are most likely going straight to the bank where they will be removed from circulation as defaced!!

Great idea!!!! Love the idea of this taking off and being given one in change..... look forward to hearing how people get on

ps Markets are a good place to use them.... rapid circulation and using the tip of handing over Queen up will hopefully work! Fast food places too...

Just don't get caught. The penalty is up to £200 for each note defaced.
Penalty for defacing banknotes

I mean, don't get caught defacing. Obvs there isn't a penalty AFAIK for passing them on.

Presumably if you do it in the privacy of your own home they couldn’t pin anything on you? Banknotes are covered in all sorts of fingerprints, filth, cocaine and God knows what, although I don’t know about the new plastic ones.
It wasn’t me guv, it was like that when I got it.

Also the self scan, does the money you pay in then get spat out as change for someone else, or do they refill the change part separately from the paying in part?

Mention of Alone in Berlin makes me wonder about getting hold of some postcards and printing messages on them. Those Fathers/ Brothers/ Husbands messages might be good: men are far clearer about where they stand on this issue and not oppressed by the need to be nice and polite. If I had a stash of them I could leave them wherever I go — cafe tables, pubs, restaurants, hidden in library books, stuck to the back of loo doors, slipped into pigeonholes. If you ask people to pass them on if they agree it could become a good game: secret army — we've got the message and we've passed it on...

But getting caught and fined would be fabulous publicity, wouldn't it?

bluescreen's caution is wholly appropriate - especially for anyone who has family members in Financial Services or similar where they are subject to quite extensive background checks (including checks of friends, family etc.).

This is very exciting!

Interesting...

the wording states that If any person prints or stamps, or by any like means impresses, on any bank note any words, letters or figures, he shall, in respect of each offence, be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding [F1level 1 on the standard scale].

So writing by hand is not printing, stamping or impressing (make a mark or design on (an object) using a stamp or seal) as far as I can see.

Cashiers used to jot notes on old banknotes all the time.

Impressing means to produce a mark on the object, this covers both a mark in the material of the object or the application of a marking agent (e.g. ink) to an object. A pen falls under this category.

However, it does say "he shall" so, presumably, the bloke nearest to any woman doing this is charged with the crime.

Looks like F1level 1 on the standard scale is £200.

Payable in notes, I wonder?

Oh I cannot wait to get one!

Ah, I forgot about the pen.....

As a general rule in law, 'he' should be read as 'he or she'. It's one of the (many) things I plan to get worked up about once we've solved more pressing issues.

Off to deface some notes

I've had loads of notes with numbers written on them in biro. Presumably cashiers' and clerks' marks?

This has made my day! Love the idea, am heading for my wallet now...

What a fabulous idea!

Has anyone shared this idea on the StickerWoman threads? I have no doubt lots of StickerWomen could do a sideline in banknotes.....

love this idea
also the postcards
where can we leave them? do we need to put more on them?
'women don't have penises' will leave 90% of the population bemused
I especially like the idea of using methods our foremothers used

I was thinking about this earlier, bookmarks in library books would be easy but may not have much reach.