SmartWater deployed to deter thefts from parking machines

The Isle of Wight Council (IWC) in the UK has deployed crime-busting SmartWater traps, following a spate of thefts and vandalism from its 140 ageing Parkeon DG-Series Pay & Display (P&D) machines in the last year.
February 1, 2012 Read time: 2 mins

The 2047 Isle of Wight Council (IWC) in the UK has deployed crime-busting SmartWater traps, following a spate of thefts and vandalism from its 140 ageing 251 Parkeon DG-Series Pay & Display (P&D) machines in the last year.

Developed by UK-company 245 SmartWater Technology, the traps spray a uniquely coded substance on anyone who illegally tampers with the machines. The harmless substance remains on the person for months and shows up under UV light, thereby matching the suspect to the crime scene. 

A sticker on each machine warns any would-be thief or vandal that SmartWater has been deployed by the Council, which is the first local authority in the UK to protect P&D terminals using the technology.

"Hopefully, the sticker itself will deter thefts but if someone does, nevertheless, attempt to remove the parking meter or get into the cash box, they should be prepared to be sprayed with SmartWater," said Cllr Barry Abraham, IWC cabinet member with responsibility for community safety.

The traps have been deployed in an initiative involving agencies from the IW Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), including the Council and police, along with SmartWater and Parkeon.  Both companies spent time on research and development to create a bespoke trap for the Island’s P&D machines.

“The DG-Series machines were widely recognised as the most secure on the market when they were installed in 1995.  However, our latest machines are even more secure, thanks to the efforts of Parkeon’s dedicated, full-time security team”, explained Bob Barnes, Parkeon’s UK Parking Director in welcoming this initiative.  “We are constantly re-evaluating the challenges that we face from the criminal fraternity and our objective is to be ahead of it at all times.”

Chief Inspector Mark Bell from Hampshire Constabulary stated, "SmartWater can forensically link the culprit to the offence and we welcome the use of the technology to prevent crimes and to help the police to catch and convict any further offenders."

Parking & Access Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • UK city council opts for APT Skidata integrated parking
    October 8, 2015
    Parking systems provider APT Skidata has completed a major new contract to provide Cambridge City Council in the UK with a wide range of parking, car park management and people access management technologies. The company will provide both the parking facility hardware, which includes its state-of-the-art barriers and payment stations, and all of the associated software that enables parking facilities to integrate directly with retailers’ promotions and maximise city events and other initiatives.
    Read More
  • Machine vision takes ITS further than the eye can see
    January 5, 2016
    Vitronic’s John Yalda looks at how machine vision has become an integral part of many ITS deployments and why it complements, rather than replaces, ANPR. New and conventional business concepts like online shopping and mail order business are becoming more established in the cultures of fast-growing economies and increasing the demand for flexibility in the freight transportation and logistics industry. Road transport has become the preferred infrastructure for freight forwarding and several studies predict
    Read More
  • Truvelo targets violation processing revolution
    March 30, 2022
    Intertraffic 2022 marks a strategic stepping-off point for traffic safety enforcement and compliance specialist Truvelo. The unveiling of the Violation Management System (VMS) completes the journey from developer and supplier of class-leading enforcement systems to complete end-to-end solutions and services provider. It also radically shifts the centre of influence in the enforcement sector by broadening the scope of offence-handling options.
    Read More
  • StarTraq launches into Asian Market
    May 15, 2012
    StarTraq, a UK-headquartered specialist in offence management, is today announcing its launch into the Asian market at Intertraffic China 2012, following the successful launch of its International Partner Programme in Europe earlier this year. The company aims to increase the global reach for its cloud-based software that automates repetitive processes, such as traffic offences.
    Read More

Highlighted Content