The Co-op Bank are to roll out a new anti-theft deterrent that sprays an invisible traceable liquid gel onto criminals to thousands of cash machines, following a successful trial.
The gel, which can be traced for up to five years, is part of a high-profile plan to halt ATM crime using high-tech solutions.
The Co-operative teamed up with SmartWater, a company founded by ex-copper Phil Cleary and his chemist brother Mike Cleary, who specialise in ATM defences. The gel that they have pioneered glows under neon yellow UV light and is 'difficult to remove'.
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A trial was held in 2016 and was extremely successful, reducing crime to 90 percent of previous levels. That prompted the Co-op Bank to install the technology in 2,500 cash points across the United Kingdom.
A cash machine damaged by explosives during a robbery. Credit: PA
According to SmartWater, the gel is 'invisible to the naked eye' and "an amount of gel the size of a speck of dust can provide the solution for scientists to undertake a successful analysis and help police with identification, with the forensic signature guaranteed to last five years."
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The Co-op were confident that the new gel would improve their services. Chirs Whitfield, the bank's director of retail and logistics, said: "ATM crime impacts customers and communities - it can also have a disproportionate impact on rural police force areas where cash dispensers are more of a lifeline for residents and the local economy."
Cash machine crime has been growing in recent years and is centred around the North-west of England - where the Co-op is based - and in London. Nearly a third of all attacks nationwide in the first half of 2017 were in the North-west, while London accounts for a further fifth.
Attacks were predominantly using a saw or angle grinder in the North West, while in London, criminals preferred to attack by fitting a so-called 'black box' to the machine, which forced it to give over all of its cash.
Credit: PA
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There was a high profile series of attacks in the North where machines were filled with gas and then exploded, but these have declined in recent months.
The Co-op were confident that the new gel defence would be effective against gas, saw and black box attacks.
Metropolitan Police spokesman Iain Raphael, Enfield Borough Commander, spoke of how his force had adapted their routines to search for the gel.
"All custody areas have suitable detectors fitted, with prisoners routinely scanned, and hundreds of patrol staff have been equipped and trained to detect it," he said. "We welcome any crime prevention initiative such as this.
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"Criminals contemplating attacks on Co-op ATMs should take note."
Source: Guardian