Income from Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Discontinued operations [Line Items]
Loss from operations before tax	$ (18.0)	$ (17.9)	$ (16.9)
Deconsolidation of Brink's Belgium and write - down to fair value	0	0	(13.4)
Settlement loss related to Belgium bankruptcy	0	(10.1)	0
Loss on sale	(0.3)	0	0
Adjustments to contingencies of former operations	0	0	0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes	(18.8)	(25.8)	(33.4)
Provision (credit) for income taxes	0.9	3.8	8.9
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(17.9)	(22.0)	(24.5)
Interest expense included in discontinued operations	0.1		0.2
Gain from FBLET refunds [Member]
Discontinued operations [Line Items]
Adjustments to contingencies of former operations	0	4.2	0	19.7
Proceeds from FBLET Refund				23.9
Workers' compensation [Member]
Discontinued operations [Line Items]
Adjustments to contingencies of former operations	(0.2)	(1.4)	(7.2)
Other Contingencies [Member]
Discontinued operations [Line Items]
Adjustments to contingencies of former operations	(0.3)	(0.6)	4.1
Discontinued European Operations [Member]
Discontinued operations [Line Items]
Revenues - disposal group	104.4	119.2	145.3
Belgian CIT Business [Member]
Discontinued operations [Line Items]
Revenues - disposal group			34.4
Losses from operations before tax			8.4
German CIT Operations [Member]
Discontinued operations [Line Items]
Revenues - disposal group	57.7	62.4	56.6
Losses from operations before tax	$ (10.0)	$ (11.1)	$ (7.0)