Water should out-smart suspects

SmartWater should show up on suspects in the three counties

Suspects taken to West Mercia police stations will be tested under a special light to see if they have been caught with a crime-busting spray.

Firms and schools hit by burglaries are encouraged to use SmartWater, which shows up under special lights but it is invisible to the naked eye.

The Telford-developed coded tool can link burglars to individual crimes.

Ultra violet lights are to be installed in custody blocks so all suspects will be automatically screened.

Det Insp Graham Edwards, of Shrewsbury CID, said the system had a 100% conviction rate to date and should serve as a strong deterrent.

'Our local force'

He said: "A person could be arrested for any offence, anywhere in West Mercia, and we will automatically screen them for SmartWater when they are brought into custody.

"If they glow, we will then be able to irrefutably link them back to the crime scene as each property protected will have its own unique code."

There are plans to mark every Shropshire school with SmartWater to stop the theft of goods.

Police said that in one recent case that led to a criminal conviction, traces of SmartWater were detected on a motorcycle helmet 15 months after the spray system had been activated.

SmartWater chief executive, Phil Cleary, said: "SmartWater is delighted to be working with West Mercia Police, our local police force.

"We believe the initiative will have a very positive impact on our local community and at the same time have criminals running scared."