The jacket worn by the assailant that, once illuminated by UV light, showed he had been sprayed with SmartTag. Credit: West Yorkshire Police.
In a first-of-its-kind arrest, a man in the UK has been convicted and jailed for domestic violence and failure to adhere to a non-molestation order after the victim sprayed him with SmartTag, a unique forensic liquid UK police have been piloting.
SmartTag was designed by the SmartWater Group following consultation with multiple UK police forces and legal professionals. SmartTag uses a pressurized canister to deploy a stream of SmartWater forensic liquid to tag an offender with a unique forensic code. This can then be used by the police to link the offender back to a specific criminal incident. The spray is invisible to the naked eye, but glows bright red under UV light.
SmartTag is a specifically designed offshoot of SmartWater, which has been used for years to protect property and high-value products. In recent years, however, the company has turned its focus to violent crimes and the reduction of violence whenever possible. For example, in December 2021, the West Yorkshire police gave over 100 security staff in bars and clubs across the UK SmartTag in order to increase and “produce calm, not aggression.”
Lee Berry, detective superintendent of West Yorkshire Police, also devised the idea to equip victims of domestic violence with the forensic liquid. And now, for the first time in court, Berry and his forces have seen the positive conclusion of this decision.
The victim in this case had a non-molestation order against her ex-partner. However, the man, who has not been identified, visited her home and attempted to gain access. Through a window, the victim sprayed her ex-partner with SmartTag.
Once he was located by police and arrested, the forensic laboratory was able to quickly and easily detect the SmartTag solution and the unique tag on his clothing. This link to the scene of the crime was enough to get him charged and convicted of breach of a non-molestation order and harassment—resulting in a 24-week jail sentence and a 2-year restraining order.
According to Berry, the victim in the case told responding officers that having the SmartTag canister made her feel “very protected and much more safe,” and that she would recommend it to other victims—which is exactly what the police have done.
The victim is one of 200 women across the UK that have been given packages for their homes that include the SmartTag handheld canister for spraying, a gel for door handles and gates, and an automatic trap that sprays the liquid if someone approaches the house. The pilot program, in conjunction with Wakefield Community Safety Partnership, is intended to prevent repeated domestic abuse offences.
“No one should have to live in fear in their own home,” said Berry. “We are always looking at new ways to reduce and detect domestic abuse and this Wakefield Community Safety Partnership-funded initiative is an innovative approach to protecting victims and ensuring offenders are brought to justice.”
In 2018, SmartWater for domestic abuse victims was piloted for the first time with West Mercia Police. Twenty domestic abuse victims had SmartWater used in their homes to deter perpetrators from returning to the home. All perpetrator were informed the solution had been used. During the year-long pilot, only one victim saw a repeat offence, where an outbuilding was broken into (not the main building). The victim was not harmed.
“I would urge anyone who has been the victim of domestic abuse—whether that’s physical abuse, controlling or coercive behavior, harassment or stalking—to please report it to the police so that we can help you to feel safe again,” said Berry.