All Warrens sites, in London, Oldham, Leeds, and Birmingham have installed the forensic spray SmartWater.
On activation the product sprays intruders with a forensic liquid which will stay on their skin and hair for weeks and for even longer on clothing. The solution contains a unique ‘DNA-style’ chemical code that is registered to the premises, linking the criminal with the crime scene. Its use of has a 100pc conviction rate when used as evidence in court.
SmartWater is virtually impossible to remove and is invisible under normal light, but glows brightly under UV light making it easily identifiable by the police. What’s more, many Police station custody areas throughout the country are equipped with UV detection equipment, so regardless of their crime, every time a detainee is brought through custody they will be checked for SmartWater.
Warrens have also been supplied with SmartWater marking systems to forensically code IT equipment and other valuables. Once applied, it is virtually impossible to remove completely, allowing police to prove ownership of an item.
A spokesperson for Warrens said: "We have decided to take these proactive measures to deter thieves from targeting our sites. Police forces across the UK are using SmartWater and are trained to detect it, meaning that once a criminal comes into contact with SmartWater it’s simply a matter of time before they are caught. Because SmartWater is unique to each site the police will know where it came from, so the criminal cannot deny they were there."
