Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 DecimalType
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
Foreign Currency Translation [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 151,700,000
Venezuelan revenues as a percentage of total revenues	7.8
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Translation	5.3
Approved transactions limit per entity per month	350,000
Brinks investments in Venzuelan Operations on an equity-method basis	81,000,000
Venezuelan Operations [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Foreign Currency Translation [Line Items]
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Translation	5.3
Venezuelan Operations [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Foreign Currency Translation [Line Items]
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Translation	4.3
US Dollar Denominated [Member]
Foreign Currency Translation [Line Items]
Cash and short-term investments	1,800,000
Bolivar Fuerte Denominated [Member]
Foreign Currency Translation [Line Items]
Assets Net	60,500,000
Cash and short-term investments	$ 26,800,000