Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 98.5	$ 72.8	$ 231.9
Benefit plan adjustments:
Net experience gains (losses) arising during the year	(253.6)	(67.8)	68.2
Deferred profit sharing	0.4	(0.4)	0
Tax benefit (provision) related to net experience gains and losses arising during the year	89.4	24.1	(0.3)
Reclassification adjustment for amortization of prior net experience loss included in net income	48.5	37.8	28.2
Tax benefit related to reclassification adjustment	(16.5)	(13.5)	(9.5)
Prior service (cost) credit from plan amendment during the year	0	(19.3)	0
Tax benefit (provision) related to prior service (cost) credit from plan amendment during the year	0	7.1	0
Reclassification adjustment for amortization of prior service cost (credit) included in net income	3.5	2.7	1.2
Tax provision (benefit) related to reclassification adjustment	(1.1)	(0.9)	(0.1)
Benefit plan adjustments, net of tax	(129.4)	(30.2)	87.7
Foreign currency:
Translation adjustments arising during the year	(50.5)	4.6	(92.4)
Reclassification From Available For Sale Securities	0	(0.6)	0
Tax benefit (provision) related to translation adjustments	1.7	(0.1)	(0.7)
Reclassification adjustment for deconsolidation of a former subsidiary	0	(2.0)	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(48.8)	1.9	(93.1)
Available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized net gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities arising during the year	2.1	5.4	2.1
Reclassification To Comprehensive Income	0	0.6	0
Tax benefit (provision) related to unrealized net gains and losses on available-for-sale securities	0	(1.7)	0
Reclassification adjustment for net (gains) losses realized in net income	(4.4)	(3.8)	0
Tax provision (benefit) related to reclassification adjustment	0.9	1.1	0
Unrealized net gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(1.4)	1.6	2.1
Other comprehensive income	(179.6)	(26.7)	(3.3)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(81.1)	46.1	228.6
Amounts attributable to Brink's [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Brink's	74.5	57.1	200.2
Benefit plan adjustments	(129.4)	(30.2)	87.7
Foreign currency	(46.7)	(3.3)	(40.3)
Available-for-sale securities	(1.5)	1.2	2.6
Other comprehensive loss	(177.6)	(32.3)	50.0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brinks	(103.1)	24.8	250.2
Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests [Abstract]
Net income	24.0	15.7	31.7
Foreign currency	(2.1)	5.2	(52.8)
Available-for-sale securities	0.1	0.4	(0.5)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2.0)	5.6	(53.3)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	22.0	21.3	(21.6)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (81.1)	$ 46.1	$ 228.6