SmartWater has been awarded a three-year contract to protect 440,000 homes across London with the announcement that the company will partner the Metropolitan Police becoming the sole supplier of traceable liquid forensic technology for the Service.
The programme will see London households issued with traceable liquid packs over the next three years as part of the ‘Met Trace’ programme. This will enable residents to mark their most treasured valuables and make them uniquely identifiable.
The Metropolitan Police will immediately commence London-wide searches for traces of SmartWater on offenders and suspected stolen property. Routine searches of offenders will also take place in police custody suites. This will significantly increase the chances of arrest and conviction for thieves who targeted protected premises.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “Crime is down in London and burglary rates are at their lowest since 1974, however we cannot be complacent. I am committed to tackling burglary in the capital, and this traceable liquids programme shows that once again the Met Police is at the forefront of innovation when it comes to preventing crime. I hope Londoners receiving this kit will take advantage of it to protect themselves and their homes from thieves.”
SmartWater Chief Executive, Phil Cleary, said: “As a former police officer, I know criminals hate traceability and SmartWater provides the most potent form available for property. The Metropolitan Police were very thorough in their assessment of our concept and we are very aware that there is a lot of work ahead of us, but we are delighted to be a part of this world-first project and look forward to working closely with them to assist in the incredible work that they do to suppress crime levels across London.”
