##notes at the new depots in the future, in order to further reduce the number of cash transports. this would of course be done under our supervision. at present these banknotes are transported to the riksbank for destruction, which gives rise to additional transports. we are also investigating whether, as a temporary solution, it would be possible to make banknotes unusable prior to transportation to the riksbank for final destruction. i believe that the new structure will give us more economically - efficient cash management, where costs and income will more visibly fall to those who participate in the market. the banks and cash - intransit companies will find new forms for their operations and develop their own cash management in a better way than an authority can. i also believe that these measures will help us achieve a higher level of security for the provision of cash in sweden. cash transport robberies – a social problem the large number of robberies of cash transports in sweden comprises a major problem for all of us – each of us is affected in some way by cash management in our society. developments have become even more troubled over the past years, as we have unfortunately seen an escalation in the violence used during the robberies and attempted robberies, through the use of explosives and heavy weapons. i regard these recent developments with great concern and hope that this forum will enable us to improve the security of cash transports and cash management in general. the number of robberies of cash transports doubled from the already high figure of 30 - 40 robberies a year to 70 - 80 robberies a year in 1998 and 1999 and has since then remained at this very high level. statistics from the european security transport association, esta, show that sweden holds a scarcely honourable third place with regard to the number of cash transport robberies in relation to the population. we had a total of 224 cash transport robberies between 1998 and 2004, while the corresponding figure for denmark was 93, for norway 42 and for finland only 4. equally alarming is the fact that sweden accounts for one tenth of the total capital losses in cash transport robberies in europe ; if one takes into account the size of the population, we were the country that lost the second highest amount of money, after ireland. it is sometimes claimed in the media that there is a link between the riksbank ’ s closure of its depots and the increase in cash transport robberies. i would doubt that claim. first and foremost, it must be remembered

be improved in various ways, but it should be emphasised that this entails much more than security cases and bullet - proof glass. cash transport robberies are a major problem in our society and this serious crime must be combated with a number of measures by both the government and private sectors. this goes beyond the riksbank ’ s area of responsibility, but we are happy to take part in discussing issues that affect our field of operations and where we can contribute constructively. the establishment of this cash management advisory board – which is the reason we have gathered here today – should, among other things, be regarded as such. it is important that we continue to have a dialogue on these issues and contribute to greater breadth and depth in the discussions of cash management. thank you for listening, and let us now open the debate!