Retirement Benefits - Changes in Level 3 Investments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
US Plans [Member]
Changes in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year			$ 756.3
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	786.3	811.8	756.3
US Plans [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Changes in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	40.0	99.3
Return on assets - relating to assets still held at the reporting date	2.8	0.4
Purchases, sales and settlements	0	39.6
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	0	(99.3)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	42.8	40.0
Non-US Plans [Member]
Changes in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year			283.0
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	179.3	322.0	283.0
Non-US Plans [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Changes in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		0.6
Return on assets - relating to assets still held at the reporting date	0	0
Purchases, sales and settlements	0	0
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	0	(0.6)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0
UMWA Plans Postretirement Medical [Member]
Changes in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year			268.7
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	264.6	284.4	268.7
UMWA Plans Postretirement Medical [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Changes in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		40.9
Return on assets - relating to assets still held at the reporting date	0.5	0
Purchases, sales and settlements	13.8	0
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	0	(40.9)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	14.3
Black Lung And Other Plans Postretirement [Member]
Changes in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year			0
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0	0	0
Pension plan [Member]
Changes in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year			1,039.3
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	965.6	1,133.8	1,039.3
Retirement benefits other than pension [Member]
Changes in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year			268.7
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$ 264.6	$ 284.4	$ 268.7

Actual return on plan assets, separately identifying the amount related to assets still held at the reporting date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)(iv)(02)(A)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (c)(iv)(02)(A)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e2446-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActualReturnOnPlanAssetsStillHeld
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanChangeInFairValueOfPlanAssetsRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Assets, usually stocks, bonds, and other investments, that have been segregated and restricted (usually in a trust) to provide benefits, at their fair value as of the measurement date. Plan assets include amounts contributed by the employer (and by employees for a contributory plan) and amounts earned from investing the contributions, less benefits paid. If a plan has liabilities other than for benefits, those non-benefit obligations may be considered as reductions of plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 30

-Section 35

-Paragraph 50

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29635418&loc=d3e12355-114930

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in plan assets from purchases, sales and settlement of plan obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)(iv)(02)(B)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (c)(iv)(02)(B)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e2446-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPurchasesSalesAndSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Transfers in and out of Level 3. For example, transfers due to changes in the observability of significant inputs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)(iv)(02)(C)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (c)(iv)(02)(C)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e2446-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTransfersBetweenMeasurementLevels
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=bco_BlackLungAndOtherPlansPostretirementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=bco_UmwaPlansPostretirementMedicalMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: