The security arm of FTSE 250 outsourcing and energy services company MITIE has become the first UK partner of SmartWater Technology to have its staff formally trained as ‘Forensic Technicians’.
Taining on the application and deployment of both SmartWater’s crime reduction products and tactics has been provided to MITIE’s management and officers and has already been deployed on one of its major client contracts.
Two security operations managers undertook the SmartWater ‘Train the Trainer’ course, which is delivered at SmartWater’s London training centre or Telford laboratories, covering topics ranging from deployment of covert forensic trap devices and the maintenance of clients’ asset registers, to the recovery and submission of forensic evidence and use of what the forensic marking product firm terms ‘psychological warfare’ to deter theft. This allows training of officers to be conducted in-house thereby reducing impact on site resources.
All personnel undertaking the training must pass an exam at the end of their course to demonstrate competence.
SmartWater points to Network Rail announcing a 21 per cent reduction in cable theft in the area where SmartWater tactics had been used. The new partnership will give MITIE’s client base access to SmartWater. Ian Rigby MBE, Account Operations Manager – Security and Emergency Services, for MITIE Facilities Management, said: “We are delighted to be working with SmartWater Technology Ltd on this partnership, which we believe will improve our offer and be of significant benefit to our clients. Up-skilling our security staff to use and actively search for traces of SmartWater forensic solution adds real value to our service and keeps us at the cutting edge of security and manned guarding.”
And Chief Executive of SmartWater Technology Ltd, Phil Cleary, said: “Bearing in mind that our products can be used as evidence in either criminal or civil proceedings, the way they are operated is of critical importance if we are to sustain the deterrent power of the SmartWater brand. We believe that we can assist professional manned guarding companies like MITIE to achieve a key differentiator by ‘upskilling’ and accrediting their staff to use the SmartWater deterrence for the benefit of their clients.”
SmartWater adds that its objective is to have its training formally recognised by UK training bodies.
