Mayor Calls for Wider Use of Traceable Liquids

FOLLOWING the success of a trial using traceable liquids to cut burglary from five London Boroughs, London Mayor Boris Johnson has challenged police and local authorities to make wider use of the technology in all areas at high risk of crime.

The Mayor believes traceable liquids, such as SelectaDNA, will play a significant role in the Metropolitan Police meeting his challenge to cut burglary by 20% by 2016. If this was achieved, burglary levels would be at an all-time low.

Traceable liquids can be used to mark household items of property and contain a unique forensic code and microdot technology which can only be seen under ultraviolet light. Any marked item can be traced back to its owner, providing police with indisputable forensic evidence to convict thieves and to identify the owner’s details.

SelectaDNA has been proven to reduce burglaries by up to 83%. In fact, 93% of UK police forces have used SelectaDNA to bring down crime. Deployed in 37 countries, SelectaDNA is one of the most effective traceable liquid solutions in the world and is universally feared by thieves.

The recent London trial saw 5,000 homes in five boroughs marked with traceable liquid technology and achieved an average 49% reduction in burglaries over six months. The Mayor now wants to introduce traceable liquids to at least 440,000 London homes and is calling for local authorities to jointly invest with the Met.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: “Where deployed well, this clever liquid has been proven to slash rates of property crime, helping the police not only to apprehend burglars and return stolen property, but act as a major deterrent to would-be criminals. I want to see this technology introduced in all areas most at risk of burglary, and I am urging local authorities to join with us to invest in a roll-out of traceable liquids across all boroughs.”