Bishop calls for SmartWater checks
The next Bishop of Shrewsbury has used his first tour of Shropshire to call for scrap metal dealers to be to be made to check for SmartWater as a condition of their licence.
Revd Canon Mark Rylands made his comments after visiting the SmartWater laboratories.
SmartWater is an invisible liquid which can be painted onto valuables – including roofing lead – and provides a unique forensic marking. The security system is invisible to the naked-eye but shows up under Ultra Violet lights and provides police with invaluable evidence showing not just that metal has been stolen – but even proving where the material was stolen from. All Church of England churches have been supplied with SmartWater by the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group after a record-breaking spate of thefts from church roofs, described as the biggest asset stripping of churches since the Reformation.
Today, Revd Canon Mark Rylands said: ‘When lead is stolen from church roofs it is sold on for a few pounds; but the damage caused to our nation’s historic buildings often runs into tens of thousands of pounds; and although our churches are insured, metal theft claims are capped resulting in churchgoers having to foot the bill, diverting money and resources away from the church’s real mission and ministry to their communities.
‘The level of thefts has reduced since SmartWater was rolled-out to our churches; but there are still far too many taking place and the thieves are finding places to sell this on. Scrap metal dealers should be responsible for checking all material they receive for SmartWater. If this was a condition of their licence they wouldn’t be able to hide behind an excuse of ‘received in good faith’ when stolen metal is detected by police undertaking routine checks. If scrap metal dealers won’t take the initiative themselves; then they must be held responsible for stolen metal found on their premises.
‘SmartWater is a very impressive security product and I’m thankful that Ecclesiastical have provided this resource to our churches. I was hugely impressed by the scientists at SmartWater; and glad to be coming to an area which includes Telford – home to a great many high-tech industries showing real ingenuity and creativity.’
SmartWater Chief Executive, Phil Cleary, said: Through our partnership with Ecclesiastical Insurance we have supplied SmartWater to more than 16,000 Anglican churches across the UK. We are sending a very clear message to the criminal fraternity that churches are not a soft target, and the evidence that SmartWater provides will be used to convict them.”
Mr Cleary’s comments come as the use of SmartWater on church roofs has just secured its first conviction. Three men pleaded guilty to stealing lead from a church in Kent after it was found in the boot of their car by Kent Police Officers. The lead had been marked with SmartWater, forensically linking with the scene of the crime. One of the men has subsequently received a 9 month prison sentences.