Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]

Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information [Table Text Block]

			2011 Quarters					2010 Quarters
(In millions, except per share amounts)			1st	2nd	3rd	4th		1st	2nd	3rd	4th
Revenues		$	913.3	979.3	995.8	997.1	$	735.4	729.4	776.1	880.6
Segment operating profit			52.0	36.6	70.1	72.4		34.9	44.1	58.0	71.9
Operating profit			37.0	20.4	62.5	51.4		23.8	31.5	44.1	46.9
Amounts attributable to Brink’s:
Income (loss) from:
	Continuing operations	$	18.9	5.3	31.5	17.3	$	(4.8)	20.7	21.7	19.2
	Discontinued operations		1.1	2.6	(0.7)	(1.5)		(3.4)	0.8	2.2	0.7
Net income (loss) attributable to Brink’s		$	20.0	7.9	30.8	15.8	$	(8.2)	21.5	23.9	19.9
Depreciation and amortization		$	38.8	41.2	40.5	41.9	$	32.3	32.9	34.8	36.6
Capital expenditures			29.4	42.2	47.1	77.5		26.9	34.3	41.3	46.3
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Brink’s
common shareholders:
Basic
	Continuing operations	$	0.40	0.11	0.66	0.36	$	(0.10)	0.42	0.45	0.40
	Discontinued operations		0.02	0.05	(0.02)	(0.03)		(0.07)	0.02	0.05	0.02
	Net income	$	0.42	0.17	0.64	0.33	$	(0.17)	0.44	0.50	0.42
Diluted
	Continuing operations	$	0.39	0.11	0.66	0.36	$	(0.10)	0.42	0.45	0.40
	Discontinued operations		0.02	0.05	(0.02)	(0.03)		(0.07)	0.02	0.05	0.02
	Net income	$	0.41	0.16	0.64	0.33	$	(0.17)	0.44	0.50	0.42