Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 DecimalType
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
Foreign Currency Translation [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 74,300,000
Venezuelan revenues as a percentage of total revenues	8.0
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	84,700,000
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	1,200,000
Bolivar Fuerte Denominated [Member]
Foreign Currency Translation [Line Items]
Assets Net	68,800,000
Cash and short-term investments	$ 20,900,000