Segment information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Revenue From Segments To Consolidated [Table Text Block]

		Years Ended December 31,
(In millions)		2011	2010	2009
Revenues by Business Segment
International	$	2,911.3	2,203.7	2,240.9
North America		974.2	917.8	894.1
Total	$	3,885.5	3,121.5	3,135.0

Operating Profit Loss From Segments To Consolidated [Table Text Block]

Operating Profit by Business Segment
International		$	199.7	164.8	156.8
North America			31.4	44.1	56.6
	Business segments		231.1	208.9	213.4
Non-segment			(59.8)	(62.6)	(46.6)
Total		$	171.3	146.3	166.8

Schedule of Capital Expenditures, Depreciation and Amortization by Segment [Table Text Block]

Capital Expenditures by Business Segment
International		$	144.8	110.7	103.1
North America			51.4	38.1	67.5
Total		$	196.2	148.8	170.6
Depreciation and Amortization by Business Segment
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment:
	International	$	96.9	84.5	88.5
	North America		54.6	43.0	36.6
	Property and equipment		151.5	127.5	125.1
Amortization of intangible assets:
	International		8.9	8.1	9.0
	North America		2.0	1.0	1.0
Total		$	162.4	136.6	135.1

Reconciliation of Assets from Segment to Consolidated [Table Text Block]

			December 31,
(In millions)			2011	2010	2009
Assets held by Business Segment
International		$	1,565.9	1,531.7	1,265.5
North America			468.6	426.8	335.4
	Business Segments		2,034.5	1,958.5	1,600.9
Non-segment			371.7	312.0	278.9
Total		$	2,406.2	2,270.5	1,879.8

Schedule of Long Lived Assets By Geographical Areas [TableTextBlock]

			December 31,
(In millions)			2011	2010	2009
Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Area (a)
Non-U.S.:
	France	$	149.9	159.9	167.2
	Mexico		123.9	118.5	-
	Brazil		100.9	99.8	96.5
	Venezuela		43.5	38.3	33.2
	Other		425.4	424.5	372.8
	Subtotal		843.6	841.0	669.7
United States			200.8	185.4	162.9
Total		$	1,044.4	1,026.4	832.6

Schedule of Revenues By Geographical Areas [TableTextBlock]

			Years Ended December 31,
(In millions)			2011	2010	2009
Revenues by Geographic Area (a)
Outside the U.S.:
	France	$	567.2	533.0	615.2
	Mexico		415.2	51.7	-
	Brazil		386.8	303.3	257.6
	Venezuela		269.2	185.9	376.1
	Other		1,513.6	1,304.1	1,154.5
	Subtotal		3,152.0	2,378.0	2,403.4
United States			733.5	743.5	731.6
Total		$	3,885.5	3,121.5	3,135.0

Schedule of Net Assets Outside the U.S. [TableTextBlock]

		December 31,
(In millions)		2011	2010	2009
Net assets outside the U.S.
Latin America	$	376.9	346.4	261.1
Europe , Middle East and Africa		285.2	271.2	300.9
Asia Pacific		98.6	94.8	87.8
Other		(68.3)	75.2	34.8
Total	$	692.4	787.6	684.6

Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Table Text Block]

(In millions)		2011	2010	2009
Information about Unconsolidated Equity Affiliates held by International Segment
Carrying value of investments at year end	$	12.8	11.5	10.2
Share of earnings included in Brink's consolidated earnings during the year		4.8	3.9	4.5
Undistributed earnings at year end		7.1	5.7	5.3