Firms on Astmoor and Halebank Industrial Estates have been provided with SmartWater kits courtesy of the joint initiative between Halton Borough Council, Cheshire Police and local businesses.

The scheme was officially launched at Halton Traveller Ltd in Widnes and Kenay Ltd in Runcorn on Wednesday (30 April) when the innovative scheme was demonstrated to the firms.

The special SmartWater liquid is left on surfaces to mark high value property or can be spayed on to intruders.  SmartWater is virtually impossible to remove and shows up under UV light.

Experts have said that no two SmartWater systems have the same forensic code, meaning every business on the estates will have property that is marked up with SmartWater and traceable back to their individual company.  

Criminals in possession of property marked with SmartWater or sprayed by the spray system can be linked to the scene of the crime through the DNA code.

The development is the latest move in the success story of the two estates, since businesses recently voted in favour of creating a Business Improvement District (BID) in their respective areas.  

Halton was the first local authority in the UK to successfully administer two ballots in separate areas at the same time.

Sgt Fiona Murphy, of Widnes Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: "This is an excellent crime prevention initiative and one of many being rolled out to firms in Halton."

Derek Hughes, of Halton Traveller, said: "This is the greatest invention since fingerprinting."

Gareth Bennett, Halton Borough Council's Business Parks Officer, said "Providing every business on Astmoor and Halebank with SmartWater will act as a real deterrent, making the estates a much tougher target to commit crime.  They are just one of many new security services and infrastructure that are coming on stream as a result of the creation of the Business Improvement Districts".