West of Scotland Liberal Democrat MSP Ross Finnie has welcomed a new invisible security spray which covers the skin and clothing of criminals.
The SmartWater Index Spray System is used to cover intruders with an invisible spray, only detectable under an ultra violet light. The spray remains on the skin for weeks and longer on clothes. Strathclyde Police has said a number of SmartWater Alarm Systems have been fitted to several homes and businesses in Paisley and Greenock.
"I welcome any new initiatives that will prove useful in reducing crime in the West of Scotland. The SmartWater Scheme has already proven to be effective in areas of England where it has greatly reduced the number of burglaries.
"Anyone detained in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde will now have to submit to a scan for SmartWater and if it is found they will have to answer some very serious questions.
"I believe the SmartWater scheme can become an effective deterrent against criminals in the West of Scotland and can also prove very useful to the Police to help catch those criminals it did not deter.
Ultra Violet detectors have been placed in the custody offices of Paisley Police Station and officers will test if suspects have traces of SmartWater. Anyone testing positive will have to account for how they became sprayed. The cutting edge detection system is also being used in Police stations in Edinburgh and central Scotland. Criminals will be unaware if the property stolen or building broken into is protected by SmartWater spray.
The introduction of SmartWater scheme to Croxteth, Merseyside, saw a 69% reduction in School burglary in 2004 and a 65% reduction in domestic burglary in Brixton London in 2007
