The SmartWater Group is to operate a National Intelligence Portal for the police and critical infrastructure companies, tracking Organised Crime Gangs (OCGs) across the UK. In particular, the new shared national database and crime mapping system will tackle metal crime and national infrastructure crime.
Transport, power and telecommunications, are some of the sectors severely affected by metal crime. Heritage sites, including places of worship, are also increasingly being targeted with metal stolen from roofs and altars, causing irreparable structural damage and historic loss.
Members of the National Metal Theft Group, which includes BT Openreach, National Grid, Network Rail and many others, will be contributing their crime data to analysts operating within the Centre for Infrastructure and Asset Protection (CIAP), a division of the SmartWater Group.
SmartWater Group’s analysts will be issuing security alerts to the members, to warn organisations of developing crime patterns ahead of any attack on the national infrastructure. Members will now have the ability to see where crime is happening across the UK, not just for their organisation. The tools allow organisations to analyse the details and put measures in place to prevent crime happening in their industry. SmartWater Group will also be working with the police on special operations aimed at identifying offenders to facilitate their arrest and subsequent conviction.
Mark Cleland, British Transport Police Superintendent and National Lead for Metal Crime, commented: “Thanks to the support of The SmartWater Group, we have taken the next step in creating the ability to map out criminality across the UK, enabling partners and law enforcement agencies to target those who present the greatest risk. These tools provide a greater pool of intelligence and a bigger picture of offender behaviour, allowing us to join the dots and deliver impact evidence to courts for sentencing. By taking a multi-agency approach, we are maximising our ability to identify those who are attacking our national infrastructure and historical buildings, making it harder for them to sell stolen metal and gain from their activities.”
Phil Cleary, CEO of the SmartWater Group, added: “SmartWater Group and our partners are working together to form a national infrastructure crime reduction partnership that will drive activity to disrupt crime and reduce disruption of the UK’s important infrastructure. We are proud to be part of this work in supporting the country during these difficult times.”
