Media Centre

93% Reduction in Swale

Sheerness residents have been given SmartWater to help fight crime in the area, as latest figures report a huge reduction in crime.

More than 500 residents were given free bottles of the clear liquid - which leaves invisible markings on household valuables to identify their rightful owners. The burglar-busting substance was handed out on Saturday by members of the Swale Community Safety Partnership. It is the largest SmartWater handout ever attempted by the team.
 
Adrian Fromm, a crime reduction officer for Swale, said: “SmartWater is proving itself to be a highly effective crime prevention tool. We have seen a 93 per cent reduction in burglary in our pilot SmartWatered areas already”

"Each bottle of SmartWater has a unique forensic code which means that marked property is 100 per cent linked to the owner’s address. As well as making It easier to return recovered stolen property to its owner, potential offenders are routinely scanned for SmartWater, as it provides a vital forensic link to a crime scene.  It has a 100 per cent conviction rate and has been hailed as “an invaluable tool in Swale’s battle against crime”.

During their SmartWater visit, safety officers reminded residents to lock up properly, afteranumberof burglaries targeting houses with unsecured doors.