Schools
Secure For Summer Siesta
Schools in the Wakefield district are using new technology
to combat burglaries and stay secure for the summer.
Wakefield District Police and Wakefield Council have teamed up together
to reduce crime in local schools using liquid DNA - a hi-tech crime deterrent.
Officers have been visiting schools delivering packs to mark up valuable
property, such as computers, with the substance.
Liquid DNA is clear and odourless and can be painted on to any item. It
leaves a forensic fingerprint encoded with the owners' details which is
almost impossible to remove.
'Those who break into and steal from schools are striking at something
very important to all of us, ' said Detective Chief Inspector Dean Henson,
Crime Manager for Wakefield District Division. 'Their actions cause a
great deal of damage to communities and we are determined to put a stop
to it.
'As more sophisticated and valuable teaching aids are introduced into
schools, security and property marking becomes more important. Liquid
DNA will ensure that if property is stolen it will be much easier for
it to be recovered. It will also put would-be thieves off breaking into
schools as any property marked with the solution becomes worthless,' he
said. 'If we do find anything in their possession then it can quickly
be traced back to its rightful owner.
'This is a warning to those thinking of buying stolen property that they
can expect a knock on the door,' concluded DCI Henson.
Councillor Graham Stokes, Wakefield Council's Cabinet Member for Corporate
Services said: 'The use of liquid DNA to securely mark and identify valuable
equipment is a great example of the Council and Police working together
to safeguard public assets, deter criminals and support the successful
prosecution of thieves.'
Horbury High School is one of the local schools on the rolling programme
that officers have visited.
Steve Hall, Horbury School’s Network Manager, said: 'Horbury School
welcomes this initiative between the Council and the West Yorkshire Police.
We were keen to support it so that we can provide a more secure school
and better protect our assets. We certainly feel more comfortable in the
knowledge that our equipment is securely and uniquely tagged - a great
deterrent to potential thieves.'
