London, Feb 19: For the first time, the UK has convicted and jailed a man for domestic abuse after being sprayed with SmartWater.
SmartWater is a forensic liquid that lights up under ultraviolet light. It stays on the skin for up to six weeks and on clothing for much longer and also links the accused to the specific batch of water that was sprayed.
According to BBC, the recent victim, in West Yorkshire, is one of over 200 women across England who now have the forensic deterrent packages in their homes. The package includes hand-held canister for spraying, a gel for door handles and gates, and an automatic trap that sprays the liquid if someone approaches the house.
This technology is currently under trial by police forces.
The accused from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, had been harassing his ex-partner and also breached his non-molestation order that ordered him to leave her alone. When he turned up and tried to get into the house, she sprayed the coded liquid from a canister from the protection of her window, BBC reported. The SmartWater helped officers to catch the accused.
He was jailed for 24 weeks and given a two-year restraining order.
BBC quoted Detective Superintendent of West Yorkshire Police Lee Berry, who came up with the idea, as saying, “Domestic abuse is quite often difficult to prosecute and a lot of these crimes occur behind closed doors. It can be one word against another.
“If we forensically mark, then we can track someone back to a location. We’ll know who the perpetrator is, and we’ll know who the victim is, as well.
“What we’re saying to the perpetrator is, if you go back to that address and you breach these conditions, you will be forensically marked.”
According to BBC, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Staffordshire Police forces are all using the kit, which costs about ?150 a month per person, as part of their strategy to fight domestic violence.
Earlier, SmartWater was used to protect property.
(UNI)
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