High street ATMs could have built-in drug sensing technology as early as next year.
BBC News understands that 5 major banks and leading ATM manufacturer Wincor Nixdorf are in the latter stages of talks to introduce sensors which would pick up traces of drugs on any card used in their machines. Wincor Nixdorf is the market leader with around a 70% share.
Wincor Nixdorf spokesman Alf O’Priol said, “Cash and Credit cards remain the property of the issuing bank and it is their responsibility to ensure they are not being used to consume illegal drugs. This is a serious problem but we are very close to a solution”.
Selected ATMs will have the sensors installed and will be able to detect trace amounts of Cocaine, Amphetamine and their derivatives. Cards found to be contaminated will be retained and a new one will be automatically issued along with a warning regarding improper use.
When pressed on the extent of the problem, Mr O’Priol said, “In one area of West London cash machines actually malfunction due to the amount of Cocaine building up in the card slot. Illegal matter can be transferred to the cards of non-drug taking citizens, which puts banks in the position of a drug dealer and open to prosecution”.
It is thought that HSBC, Lloyds TSB and Halifax Bank Of Scotland will be the first to introduce the technology. The UK Government welcomed the move and it is believed that Scotland Yard are close to an agreement which will allow criminal charges to be brought to the owners of contaminated cards.
