A Police Scotland project that saw a 53 per cent reduction in domestic house breaking by using forensic marking products has been extended across the country.
Around 4000 domestic properties in Pollokshields, Rutherlglen, Torry, Gullane, the Duddingston area of Edinburgh and the Stirling West area will be provided with SmartWater traceable liquid packs to protect their personal valuables.
Tactics aimed at deterring crime are also in place, including signage (pictured) searches for the marking product within police station custody suites and at second hand outlets, which will make it harder for thieves attempting to sell on marked stolen goods. This is also being supported by a media campaign. Organisers say that these activities will generate significant awareness of the SmartWater brand among criminals, creating a deterrent that will not only benefit homeowners, but also local businesses that are using the marking product.
It works by heightening the traceability of valuables and increasing the accountability of thieves. Once applied to an item the traceable liquid is almost impossible to remove and is only detectable under UV light. Each bottle of traceable liquid carries a forensic code uniquely registered to the owner. In the event of a theft, the forensic code provides an irrefutable link back to the owner of the stolen goods and also links the criminal with the crime scene.
The product can the makers add protect everything from IT equipment to metal infrastructure. The makers point to the track record for helping businesses to reduce theft-related losses, protecting service delivery and profitability whilst minimising downtime and repairs, the frequent by-products of metal theft.
SmartWater adds that it will work with its clients to help them identify any vulnerabilities and maximise their security spend, thereby helping them to achieve return on their investment. Business users include Network Rail, Openreach (a BT Group Business), G4S and National Grid.
SmartWater Chief Executive Phil Cleary, said: “This is the first time that SmartWater has been rolled out on a national scale. We are committed to working in close partnership with Police Scotland to suppress crime by heightening criminal awareness of SmartWater and the threat it poses to their livelihood. The use of SmartWater had aided hundreds of convictions and maintains a 100 per cent conviction rate in Court. It has also been proven both operationally and academically to be the UK’s most powerful deterrent. Any premises displaying the SmartWater brand, be they a home or a business, will send a very powerful deterrent message to criminals operating locally.”
The national rollout of the product is supported by the Scottish Government Community Safety, Scottish Neighbourhood Watch, Scottish Business Resilience Centre and various utilities and insurance companies.
