HOUSEHOLDERS can dab valuables with a unique forensic fingerprint which police say will boost prosecutions.

It comes in the shape of a liquid forensic coding system, called SmartWater, which gives property a unique forensic fingerprint' once it has been treated with the liquid, which is even more individual and robust than DNA and can be analysed and identified down to a billionth part.

SmartWater can simply be dabbed into the nooks and crannies of valuable items, marking the object with the forensic code.

Police say the technology is so powerful that criminals would have to physically remove every speck of forensic coding solution from the stolen item before they would be safe from prosecution virtually an impossible task.

PC Mike Smooker, crime prevention officer from Hillingdon, said: "We are delighted to be using SmartWater on the borough, and this initiative represents a key component in our campaign to combat burglaries.

"We have high expectations that we will see a drop in the number of burglaries committed and an increase in the number of burglars caught and convicted."

Each state of the art SmartWater forensic code is stored on the SmartWater national security register which is maintained to BS 7799 - the highest level of data security used by organisations such as MI5 and GCHQ.

Any recovered property can easily be identified by SmartWater technicians. It is then checked against the database to find its rightful owner.

Chief Inspector Maurice Hartnett said: "This initiative is an excellent example of collaborative working with the burglary task force group identifying opportunities to reduce burglaries from happening. Smartwater means that we have a greater chance of catching burglars and recovering stolen property."

For more information contact PC Mike Smooker on 0208 246 1778