Smartwater
- Arrives in the Scunthorpe Area
The
arrival of Smartwater to the Scunthorpe area has been announced.
Smartwater
is a colourless liquid made up of a number of elements. The makeup
of the elements is unique to each issue so that when it is found
it can be traced back to the people to whom it was issued.
It
is used in two distinct ways.
Firstly,
it is used as a spray in buildings or cars and when activated
by an intruder the liquid is sprayed on the person. Criminals
find the material impossible to remove. Smartwater has been picked
up from items eighteen months after being sprayed.
Secondly,
it is painted on property as a property marking method.
People
arrested by the Police at Scunthorpe walk through an ultra violet
light system to check for smartwater. When properties are searched
using a search warrant portable units are used to identify Smartwater
on property and clothing. When people are challenged by the Police
in the street, the property they are carrying is checked for Smartwater.
Scrap metal dealers, second hand shops, car boot sales and other
places are being visited by the Police.
C/Supt
Stuart Donald is confident that, although reports of burglary
are already decreasing, the use of Smartwater will bring significant
reductions in burglary and car crime in this area and an increase
in detection of these offences. It will deter and detect these
crimes.
Geoff
Knupfer, from the Smartwater organisation, explained the material
and its use in other areas including North East Lincolnshire and
South Yorkshire. An officer from South Yorks Police gave information
about recent successes in the reduction and detection of burglary
and car crime.
The
property marking kits will be distributed initially in crime hotspot
areas.
In
addition to marking items such as CD players, sat navs, TVs, jewellery
items such as lead flashing or property owned by businesses can
be marked. The opportunities are endless and the benefits substantial.
Click
here for more reading
Geoff
Knupfer, C/I Steve Graham, C/Supt Stuart Donald and Supt David
Hilditch prior to the launch.

Click
on image to enlarge
Splashes
of Smartwater on jacket sprayed 18mths ago.

Click
on image to enlarge
|