By Nick Evans

SmartWater technology is being credited for cutting burglaries by 94 per cent around Milton Regis over the past eight months.
Sittingbourne police visited householders in the area late last year offering bottles of SmartWater and advice on how to use the liquid to mark their valuables.
Signs were also put up around Milton Regis warning people that SmartWater was in use by residents.
Each bottle of SmartWater has a unique forensic code (similar to DNA) and, in many places, it has become a cornerstone in household and business security.
It is an invisible liquid that remains on the skin for several weeks and on clothing indefinitely.
This will link a criminal to the scene of a crime, leading to prosecution and conviction.
Sittingbourne police station has also since been equipped with ultraviolet detectors and all potential offenders are now being routinely scanned for any signs of SmartWater.
Nearly 100 households in Milton have taken advantage of the free property marking scheme and since its launch there has been only one burglary – an attempted shed theft.
Police say this is a fall of more than 94 per cent compared to the previous six months (in April to September 2008 there were 18 offences) and a reduction of nearly 88 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year (in October 2007 to March 2008 there were eight offences).
Borough commander Ch Insp Tony Henley said: “This property marking initiative was aimed at helping homeowners think about ways to protect their property and to give them practical assistance to safeguard their homes and valuables.
“Criminals need to be aware that this new technology has a 100 per cent conviction rate to date with an irrefutable link to the scene of a crime and Kent Police are now looking for it as part of their everyday business in the fight against crime.”
For more information on how to get your property SmartWater marked contact 01795 419214.