Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

Your industry news - first

We strongly recommend viewing Locks and Security News full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.

SmartWater secures school burglars' convictions

The high-tech crime fighting powers of SmartWater have been praised by Suffolk Police following the successful conviction of a pair of school burglars.

The intruders were marked with the forensically-coded liquid when they triggered the SmartWater security system as they broke into Leiston High School, in Suffolk. They subsequently fled the scene empty handed.

When police swiftly tracked down the burglars, the tell-tale glow of SmartWater was clearly visible on both offenders under UV light. Scenes of crime officers took face and hand swabs from the pair and seized their clothing, which tested positive for the unique SmartWater code registered to the school, thereby irrefutably linking them with the crime scene.

Royal award-winners, SmartWater Technology Ltd, offer a proven risk management and crime prevention service that is widely used by schools, businesses, local authorities and the police to combat a diverse range of crimes including burglary, robbery and metal theft.  SmartWater has been responsible for more than 1,000 convictions with a 100 per cent success rate in court.

Kadeem Walton, 19, of Long Row, Leiston, was given a 16 week sentence, suspended for 12 months, when he appeared before magistrates in Lowestoft. He is also subject to a three month curfew order and was ordered to pay costs of £85 and compensation of £100.

He had previously pleaded guilty to the burglary and to a charge of threatening behaviour following an incident on Boxing Day in Albion Street, Saxmundham.

A 17-year-old boy from the Saxmundham area, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also given an eight month detention and training order for his role in the Leiston High School burglary, during which nothing was stolen. The teenager, who was sentenced on February 2 after pleading guilty, was also given a two-year Anti Social Behaviour Order which will come into effect on his release.

Sgt Mark Beresford, of Leiston and Aldeburgh Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "This is one of Suffolk's first successful uses of the SmartWater spray system and proves how effective it can be. 

"The school had been fitted with the system after several break-ins and this was triggered soon after the offenders broke in. Officers had been alerted and police on foot and a dog unit quickly started a pursuit of those responsible.

"They were located, the ultra-violet light shone on them and when they glowed positive for SmartWater they were arrested."

SmartWater was rolled out in Leiston and Saxmundham last year following problems with a number of troublesome youths.

SmartWater Technology Ltd Chief Executive, Phil Cleary, said: "SmartWater provides the police with extremely robust forensic evidence, placing offenders firmly at the scene of the crime and once again has led to a solid conviction. 

"SmartWater is well known to the criminal fraternity so the message this court case sends to other would-be offenders will act as a powerful deterrent against further school break-ins in the region."

The effective protection of school premises is only one of the hundreds of possible crime prevention applications of SmartWater, which can include indelible marking of individual assets as well as the use of advanced forensic trap devices. The technology has also been deployed by leading UK businesses, including BT Openreach, Network Rail, Severn Trent Water, Eon Central Networks and many more.

Many UK police forces have successfully built crime reduction strategies around SmartWater, resulting in dramatic reductions in crime. 

Picture shows: The tell-tale glow of uniquely coded SmartWater only becomes visible under UV light.

11th May 2011