Put Ultraviolet Dye In London Water Cannons To Track Protesters, Police Bosses Urge
Police commissioners have urged the Met to put ultraviolet dye in its new water cannon in order to track people hit by the weapons, Boris Johnson’s policing boss has said. ● Stephen Greenhalgh, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, told members of the London Assembly that police and crime commissioners from around the country had advocated the use of “SmartWater” in the crowd control weapon. The substance would remain invisible until those hit by the water had an ultra-violet light shone on them, at which point it would glow fluorescent yellow and identify them as having been at a protest or other public order situation. SmartWater is normally used to invisibly mark valuable belongings such as laptops so that the police can trace their owners if they are ever stolen, and also to permanently stain the clothes of people involved in burglaries. Greenhalgh said there was a “range of views” among police commissioners about the plans to purchase the weapons.