Merseyside Police launch SmartWater operation to clamp down on crime

Jun 18 2008 by Sue McCann, Birkenhead News

A CRIME prevention operation has been under way at Twelve Quays in a bid to stamp out the theft of metal in churches and business premises.

Merseyside Police teamed up with SmartWater to carry out a method of marking items and property with a substance that is invisible to the naked eye but marks thieves or their clothing.

Property can then be identified if stolen.

Throughout last week signs were erected in the area giving advice about the use of the technique.

Signage at the docks is being used to raise awareness among heavy goods drivers that scrap metal is being checked for SmartWater and that police there are equipped with UV light.

According to police, scrap metal is being transported between Merseyside and Ireland and the purpose of checking for SmartWater is to act as a deterrent for anyone

thinking about shipping stolen metals.

Detective Craig Boswell said: “The incorporation of SmartWater technology within our area is a significant development as the crackdown on metal theft continues.

“We are working hard to detect those responsible for thefts from churches and business premises.

“This initiative will enable us to directly link an offender to a theft, providing us with robust and irrefutable forensic evidence.”