A major campaign has been launched to stop stolen bank notes being used by public. These notes were taken during cash in transit raids which have been dyed when gangs try to open cash boxes.

Banknotewatch.ie will give the public information on what the notes look like and what to do if you have one.

Banknotewatch is a crime prevention initiative which promotes the fact that a dye-stained banknote is probably a stolen banknote. The gardai say that such dye-stained euro banknotes are the proceeds of crime.

The work of Banknotewatch encourages 'the immediate withdrawal of dye-stained banknotes from circulation'.

A similar campaign is already in place in the UK.

Speaking at the launch Keith Gross from the Irish Banking Federation (IBF) says a dye-stained bank note is a stolen banknote.