Chelmsford Star Co-op stores are taking the fight to criminals after unveiling a new security initiative which has been rolled out to stores across the region.
10 Chelmsford Star Co-op stores have each installed a forensic spray system called SmartWater which has over 500 criminal convictions to its name and a 100% conviction rate when used as evidence in court. SmartWater will be used as part of a co-ordinated security strategy to help deter thieves, protect stock and ensure the continued safety of staff members and customers.
The system works by spraying intruders with a chemical liquid containing a forensic signature which is registered to the premises, and provides Police with an irrefutable link between the criminal and the crime scene. The solution will stay on skin and hair for weeks and even longer on clothing, and is only visible under ultra-violet light, making it easy for the police to identify.
Retailers across the UK are increasingly turning to SmartWater as more and more criminals are disregarding traditional security methods which are often unable to secure a criminal conviction, even if they lead to an arrest. A simple balaclava or scarf can render the likes of CCTV useless as evidence in court.
A recent report by leading criminologist Professor Martin Gill from Leicester University named SmartWater as the most effective deterrent available after interviewing more than 100 criminal offenders. According to the report, 74% of interviewees said they would abandon their plans to break into a building if a SmartWater warning label was on display. The offenders in the research scored SmartWater as a more powerful deterrent than CCTV, Burglar Alarms and Security Guards.
Barry Wood, Chelmsford Star Co-op Deputy Chief Executive Officer, said: "During 2008 and early 2009, Chelmsford Star saw an increase in the incidents of burglary leading to disruption to the store and customers and a feeling of anxiety amongst staff. The decision to install SmartWater in our stores comes after consultation with Essex Police on not only how we can deter would be thieves but also how to assist the police in securing convictions following an arrest."
DC Arran Holmes from Essex Police, said: “The deterrent value offered by products such as SmartWater is well established; and here in Essex officers are aware of its use in helping to detect a crime. Criminals who are arrested following an incident where these products are used will give us evidence of their involvement and often results in convictions.”
Phil Cleary, Chief Executive of SmartWater said: “The evidence provided by SmartWater is of great value to the Police because it provides forensic evidence that is accepted within a court of law. This has allowed us to successfully prosecute hundreds of offenders and we have never lost a case in court where SmartWater evidence has been used.”