Member Article

60,000 city homes benefit from SmartWater partnership

60,000 homes in the capital have already signed up to a pioneering new anti-burglary kit launched by the Mayor in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police and SmartWear.

Unveiled by the Mayor earlier this year as part of a wider strategy to reduce burglary by 20 per cent by 2016, the Met Trace programme will provide 440,000 homes in burglary hotspots across London with a free kit over three years.

The Met Trace kit contains an invisible traceable liquid that allows people to mark their possessions with a unique forensic code, and warning stickers to deter burglars. Created by SmartWater technology, the liquid, which is virtually impossible to remove and can only be viewed under UV light, is already significantly driving down burglary rates since its launch earlier this year.

The aim is to drive down the overall number of burglaries across the capital, which have dropped 26 per cent compared to 2012, and reduced by over a 10 per cent in the last year.

It is predicted the roll-out could prevent over 7,000 homes being burgled over three years, saving the Metropolitan Police almost £5m.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “Burglary is a sickening offence and, whilst crime is down in London, we are not complacent and continue to find new ways to tackle it. This innovative kit offers residents protection and peace of mind, and will continue to drive down burglary as we deliver it to more and more Londoners.”

Phil Cleary, Chief Executive of SmartWater, said: “We are very proud to be partnering with the Metropolitan Police on this world first project and would like to congratulate them on reaching this landmark of distributing the 60,000th SmartWater kit. The fact that this project is already achieving such positive reaction across London is testament to the hard work of everyone involved.”

Met Trace will continue to roll out to more homes in hotspot areas across London. Safer Neighbourhood teams deliver, explain and demonstrate the kits to residents, and are on hand to answer questions and provide crime prevention advice.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .