Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 |
|---|
| Income Statement [Abstract] | | | | |
| Revenues | $ 995.8 | $ 776.1 | $ 2,888.4 | $ 2,240.9 |
| Costs and expenses: | | | | |
| Cost of revenues | 807.7 | 626.5 | 2,373.9 | 1,840.2 |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 136.6 | 107.6 | 400.3 | 310.2 |
| Total costs and expenses | 944.3 | 734.1 | 2,774.2 | 2,150.4 |
| Other operating income (expense) | 11.0 | 2.1 | 5.7 | 8.9 |
| Operating profit | 62.5 | 44.1 | 119.9 | 99.4 |
| Interest expense | (6.5) | (4.2) | (18.2) | (9.0) |
| Interest and other income | 1.3 | 0.6 | 6.8 | 2.7 |
| Income from continuing operations before tax | 57.3 | 40.5 | 108.5 | 93.1 |
| Provision for income taxes | 20.9 | 15.5 | 37.9 | 46.1 |
| Income from continuing operations | 36.4 | 25.0 | 70.6 | 47.0 |
| Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | (0.7) | 2.2 | 3.0 | (0.4) |
| Net income | 35.7 | 27.2 | 73.6 | 46.6 |
| Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (4.9) | (3.3) | (14.9) | (9.4) |
| Net income attributable to Brink's | 30.8 | 23.9 | 58.7 | 37.2 |
| Income (loss) attributable to Brink's: | | | | |
| Continuing operations | 31.5 | 21.7 | 55.7 | 37.6 |
| Discontinued operations | (0.7) | 2.2 | 3.0 | (0.4) |
| Net income attributable to Brink's | $ 30.8 | $ 23.9 | $ 58.7 | $ 37.2 |
| Basic: | | | | |
| Continuing operations | $ 0.66 | $ 0.45 | $ 1.17 | $ 0.78 |
| Discontinued operations | $ (0.02) | $ 0.05 | $ 0.06 | $ (0.01) |
| Net income | $ 0.64 | $ 0.50 | $ 1.23 | $ 0.77 |
| Diluted: | | | | |
| Continuing operations | $ 0.66 | $ 0.45 | $ 1.16 | $ 0.77 |
| Discontinued operations | $ (0.02) | $ 0.05 | $ 0.06 | $ (0.01) |
| Net income | $ 0.64 | $ 0.50 | $ 1.22 | $ 0.76 |
| Weighted-average shares | | | | |
| Basic | 48.0 | 47.8 | 47.8 | 48.4 |
| Diluted | 48.1 | 47.9 | 48.1 | 48.7 |
| Cash dividends paid per common share | $ 0.10 | $ 0.10 | $ 0.30 | $ 0.30 |