Forensics

With recent developments in forensics departments worldwide, new technologies and cyberspace often come together to catch criminals in their tracks. For example, in 2005, London’s Metropolitan Police tested the effectiveness of SmartWater—a clear, odorless, nontoxic liquid containing high-tech microscopic particles with a unique code. Though invisible to the eye, SmartWater (which was developed by a former detective, Phil Cleary) glows under ultraviolet light. So if an item such as jewelry or a DVD player has been treated with the liquid, when it is stolen, forensic technicians can read the coded particles under ultraviolet light to identify the real owner.

See Also: Barrett, Neil and the Raphael Gray Case.