In an effort to prevent crime within the Sharrow and South West Safer Neighbourhood area local Police Community Support Officers, Sheffield Homes Neighbourhood Wardens and Fire Officers will be conducting a SmartWater and Fire Safety initiative in the Southview and Vincent Road areas.

The initiative will run in three phases. The first phase is due to start the week commencing 27^th April and will focus on visiting over 450 properties in Sharrow. As well as giving away a number of free SmartWater and property marking kits, the team will be offering crime reduction advice and home fire safety checks along with free smoke alarms to properties where needed.

SmartWater is a completely non-hazardous liquid that can be used to forensically code almost any property. SmartWater is practically impossible to completely remove from skin, clothing and footwear and can last on the offender’s skin for weeks and on clothes for even longer.

It can be used to code all sorts of items such as jewellery, ornaments, electrical items and even motor vehicles. Each bottle contains a unique chemical ‘code’ which is registered to the person. It cannot be easily seen by the naked eye but glows under ultraviolet light making it easy for the Police to detect. Any recovered stolen property can be traced back to the exact place from where it was stolen and the offender can be linked back to the crime scene.

Councillor Bob McCann, Cabinet Member for Safer, Sustainable Communities says "This forms an integral part of our Partnership approach to making  Sheffield safer. Our message is clear; there is no hiding place for thieves.”

Inspector Craig Patchett, from the Sharrow and South West Sheffield Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “this multi agency initiative is a great opportunity for the police and other partners  to engage with the local community, and to give out advice and SmartWater and property marking kits. SmartWater is a valuable tool and Sheffield is currently undertaking an extensive program of SmartWater deployment, which is already proving to be an effective deterrent for criminals.”   

The service will be free of charge due to sponsorship from the Safer & Sustainable Communities Partnership and Sharrow Partnership, with further streets within the neighbourhood benefiting from another 450 kits in the coming months.

We are also conducting an open evening, which takes place on Tuesday 28^th April 2009 between 5.30pm and 7pm at The Sharrow Partnership (The old Sharrow Primary School) on Southview Road where representatives will be on hand to answer residents questions about both free services and any other issues you wish to raise within your neighbourhood.

Media Invite

The media are invited to the open evening. For further information about the initiative or if you are interested in attending please contact the Sheffield Communications Office.