‘Smart water’ to tackle sexual assaults in clubs

Clubbers who harass women will be sprayed with “smart water” in a government-backed trial to combat sexual assaults.

Security guards will be issued with canisters of the spray that they can use to tag suspects’ bodies and clothes.

Police are able to follow up any alleged attack by shining ultraviolet light on the suspect and their clothes to prove they were at the scene.

The trial was announced by Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse.

Smart water tagging has been pioneered by West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), which funded more than 100 security staff in bars and clubs to be given the canisters.