Defford and Besford Parish get Smart
Defford and Besford Parish residents have been invited to join a crime-fighting scheme aimed at deterring thieves and burglars.
Wychavon is working with the local parish council and West Mercia Police to turn Defford and Besford into a ‘We Don’t Buy Crime, SmartWater Village’ to deter criminals from targeting the area. SmartWater is a colourless liquid solution that can be applied to the surfaces of belongings and valuables. It leaves a unique code which is almost impossible to remove and can only be viewed under ultraviolet light.
Each household has been invited to a ‘sign-up’ event at Defford Village Hall on Wednesday, 5 June from 7pm – 9pm where they will receive their free SmartWater property marking kit which contains enough liquid to mark up to 75 items.
Marked items are then registered with a national database so if items are stolen, the rightful owner can easily be identified, and the property returned. SmartWater deters criminals as they know stealing SmartWater marked property makes it more likely they will be caught and convicted.
Signs will be installed across the parish to warn criminals it is a SmartWater village, and households have been given window stickers as well.
The packs were funded by Defford and Besford Parish council and West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion. Wychavon's Community Safety team has been supporting the parish council to knock on doors and promote the scheme to residents.
It is part of West Mercia Police’s ‘We don’t buy crime’ initiative which is aimed at deterring acquisitive crime, which includes burglary, theft, robbery and shoplifting. So far, 25 villages and parishes in Wychavon have signed up to the scheme.
Cllr Rob Adams, Executive Board Member for Stronger Communities, Culture and Sport on Wychavon District Council, said: “I’m delighted yet another part of our district has decided to take part in the SmartWater scheme. I’d encourage other areas to explore this opportunity. By working together to make life difficult for criminals we can make Wychavon an even safer place to live.”
Peter Hale, Defford Parish Council, said: “Residents are keen to take some action to deter crime in our area. Thanks to the support of West Mercia Police and Wychavon’s Community Safety team we are pleased to offer a SmartWater scheme in our parish and I hope it will deter criminals from targeting us again in the future.
Insp Dave Wise, from Pershore Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “It’s fantastic that another couple of villages have joined the scheme which I’m hoping will act as a powerful crime deterrent. Pershore Safer Neighbourhood Team are glad to be working closely with our partners and the community to ensure every effort is made to prevent crime in our rural communities.”
Other parishes or villages interested in becoming SmartWater villages should email
Defford and Besford residents who can’t make the event can email
