G4S Cash Services (UK) ('G4S'), the leading provider of cash solutions in the UK, has announced that its deployment of SmartWater has now been extended to include all cash-in-transit (CIT) and ATM deliveries throughout the UK.
The partnership with SmartWater, which was launched in October 2007, means that a unique forensic solution which cannot be seen by the naked eye is incorporated into all the cashboxes used by G4S's couriers. As a result, criminals who break into a G
4S cashbox will unavoidably become contaminated by SmartWater.
This technology enables the police to directly link an offender to a specific CIT attack, long after the incident took place, providing them with robust and irrefutable forensic evidence. The use of SmartWater has been welcomed by the police as another means to enable them to continue to improve crime detection rates and conviction rates for CIT crimes.
Kevin O'Connor, Risk Director, G4S Cash Services (UK) said: "Our use of SmartWater is providing a valuable tool to support the police in the fight against CIT crime. Those involved in CIT robberies are often involved in other criminal activities in their local communities so this technology can really help to improve crime rates within those areas. This partnership with SmartWater is just one of a number of proactive initiatives we are taking to support the police in combating CIT crime. "
Phil Cleary, Chief Executive of SmartWater Technology Ltd, said: "Criminals are becoming increasingly aware of the presence of SmartWater and its ability to convict criminals who target CIT and ATM deliveries. We have had great success in linking criminals to more than one robbery and increasing the length of their sentences as a result. In some cases sentences of up to 17 years have been issued by the Courts and SmartWater evidence has played a crucial part in this. We will continue to promote this message to the criminal fraternity at every opportunity to heighten SmartWater's deterrent effect."
As part of this joint initiative, SmartWater has provided specially adapted ultra-violet scanning lamps, enabling the Police throughout the UK to check for traces of SmartWater on all suspected criminals who pass through their custody suites.
By working closely with the police and key stakeholders G4S will continue to play its part in developing a joint approach to tackling the wider issues of crime in the community on both a national and local level.
The CIT industry is vital to the economic liquidity of the UK where cash remains the consumer's preferred method of payment. Each year the CIT industry transports around £500 billion, equivalent to £1.4 billion per day, by around 8,000 couriers using a fleet of some 4,000 vehicles
