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I was asked on this post if I'd put together a FAQ for a security product called Smartwater.
Here's my first draft. I've been holding off posting because I'd emailed the company asking how many they'd need in a group to offer discounted pricing (e.g. we're getting it cheap via the local police), but unfortunately they've not responded as yet...
Anyway, let me have any suggested changes, or bits you think should be elaborated;
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What is Smartwater?
Smartwater is a water-based substance that can be painted onto virtually anything and will stay there almost permanently. It will not wash off or come off and is virtually invisible to the naked eye. Each sample of Smartwater has its own forensic signature, which is unique to that reference number and individual. This means that items in a motorhome, indeed the motorhome itself, can be uniquely marked.
When the police detect Smartwater on an item that they recover, analysis will tell them who owns and protected the item.
For businesses, it's also possible to get an indexed spray system. In this system, Smartwater is sprayed to mark the offender instead of the property. Some police forces, such as Lancashire, plan to routinely scan “visitors” to their custody centres to detect offenders that have been sprayed with Smartwater.
The police regard Smartwater as a valuable crime detection tool and believe criminals know about it, so where warning signs are erected crimes are deterred in the first place. This is backed up by the fact that e.g. in Lancashire, the police are acting as agents in the sale of Smartwater and putting up Smartwater warning signs along Neighbourhood Watch signs.
How much does Smartwater cost, and what do I get for my money?
A package designed for coding a car or caravan (which obviously will be suitable for a motorhome as well) costs £2.99/month. For this, you get an initial 10ml of Smartwater, an applicator and application guide, and two stickers to warn of its presence. An additional 10ml of Smartwater is provided free of charge up to once per year on request (NB : it is unclear if this free additional pack applies to the vehicle package, or just the household one), with extra ones available at a cost of £20.
Note : these are the prices when purchased directly from Smartwater. It may be worth contacting your local police to see if they offer the product at lower pricing.
Where do I find out more?
Smartwater's website is at www.smartwater.com.
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This comment is not specifically related to motorhoming/caravanning, but I thought it might be useful. My experience of Smartwater is in the area of metals thefts from churches but the principles are similar.
An observation regularly attached to the Smartwater debate is that its effectiveness is dependent upon policing (in the widest sense - not just the boys in blue). Only if significant numbers of detections, arrests and convictions arise because of Smartwater will the deterrent remain effective.
It might not be the case in all parts of the country, but experience seems to be indicating that a restricted level of policing has substantially eroded the possible deterrent effect. In the south-east, despite a very large number of thefts of Smartwater-marked lead and copper, the number of detections have been few.
From my own church, we have had marked lead/copper taken three times in six months with no indication of the metal being traced. Indeed, after the last theft, he decision was taken to strip the remaining lead and replace with slates. We were advised to dispose of the lead with the comment "Just take it to any scapyard - nobody will check where it came from" and this is exactly what happened. At the largest scrapyard in the area, a quick check in the back of the van and an offer of cash with a scriibbled receipt. Totally untraceable to the seller, even if the Smartwater tag was picked up at a later point.
Unfortunately, I don't hold out any great hope that stolen MH/caravan parts will have a better chance of location/recovery.
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Norway
