Residents in Defford and Besford now have added protection against thieves and burglars after they became the latest area to join Wychavon’s SmartWater army.
Wychavon has been working with Defford and Besford Parish Council and West Mercia Police to hand out SmartWater kits to residents to help deter criminals from targeting the area.
More than 200 households signed up for the scheme, meaning the two villages are now SmartWater areas.
Pictured: Faye Allen-Carter, Wychavon’s Community Safety Officer, Nick Hall, We Don’ Buy Crime Co-ordinator for West Mercia Police, Cllr Peter Hale, Defford and Besford Parish Council and Cllr Sue Rees, Vice Chair of Defford and Besford Parish Council.
SmartWater is a colourless liquid solution that can be applied to the surfaces of belongings and valuables. It leaves a unique code that is almost impossible to remove and can only be viewed under ultraviolet light.
Each household signed up has been given a kit containing enough liquid to mark up to 75 items.
Marked items are then registered with a national database so if items are stolen, the rightful owner can easily be identified, and the property returned. SmartWater deters criminals as they know stealing SmartWater-marked property makes it more likely they will be caught and convicted.
Signs have been installed around the villages to warn criminals it is a SmartWater area, and households have been given window stickers as well.
The packs were funded by Defford and Besford Parish Council and West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion. Wychavon's Community Safety team has supported the parish council with promoting the scheme to residents.
It is part of West Mercia Police’s ‘We don’t buy crime’ initiative which is aimed at deterring acquisitive crime, which includes burglary, theft, robbery and shoplifting.
Cllr Rob Adams, Executive Board Member for Stronger Communities, Culture and Sport on Wychavon District Council, said: “I’m delighted Defford and Besford have become the latest recruits to Wychavon’s SmartWater army. Anything we can do to help protect people’s property and make life more difficult for criminals is a good thing. I’d encourage other areas to explore this opportunity to make Wychavon an even safer place to live, work and visit.”
Sue Rees, Vice Chair of Defford and Besford Parish Council, said: “This is a positive step that will provide a visible deterrent to criminals and reassurance to residents. We’re grateful to the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner and Wychavon’s Community Safety team for their support.”
Other parishes or villages interested in becoming SmartWater villages should email