College gets 'Smartwatered'

DONCASTER College has become one of the first major organisations in the town to have its equipment sprayed with SmartWater to deter burglars.

The College is spraying its computers, plasma screens, phones, printers and other valuable items with the colourless, odourless liquid which security marks property with a unique DNA-style chemical formula. Invisible to the naked eye, it glows under ultra-violet light.

Brian Gilbride, the College’s Security Supervisor, said: “It is a proven deterrent to criminals. I definitely think burglars will think twice about stealing equipment from the College if they know we have been SmartWatered.

“We paid £350 for enough liquid to spray all of our equipment – even the College mobile phones are getting SmartWatered so it’s a bargain.”

Sergeant Kev Drewett, of the Crime Reduction Unit, at South Yorkshire Police, said: “We are delighted that Doncaster College is onboard with the SmartWater initiative, all schools across the borough are now SmartWatered and it is great that the College is following their lead, they are one of the borough’s first major organisations to invest in the security marking scheme – which has already proven to reduce burglary by 13.5% in certain areas of Doncaster.

“Doncaster College is a new state of the art building with all the necessary technology to support it. All of its valuable property is now protected by Smartwater which sends out the message to opportunist thieves to stay away.”

As well as being patrolled 24/7 by the College’s own security staff, the Hub building has been designed to incorporate the latest in non-combustible materials and emergency systems.

A Police Community Support Officer also provides extra security in and around the new campus. The College has also placed an emphasis on security under the bridge on the walkway to town and installed 50 CCTV cameras across the campus.

As part of a joint initiative between Doncaster Council and the Police, the Safer Doncaster Partnership is currently offering free SmartWater to 20,000 households in Neighbourhood Renewal Areas of Doncaster. If any students live in these areas and would like to protect their personal belongings including iPods, mobile phones, TVs or Stereos contact smartwater@doncaster.gov.uk.