The pair met with local police officers and council leaders to hear how the use of traceable liquids – a solution containing a unique forensic code which can only be seen under ultraviolet light – helped cut the number burglaries in the borough by almost 15%.
As well as making it easier to convict offenders, traceable liquids increase the chances of victims being reunited with their stolen property.
A recent 6 month pilot of the technology in hotspots across five boroughs saw an average 49 per cent fall in the number of burglaries, estimated to have saved more than 15,000 police hours and £500,000.
The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, which is headed by Mr Greenhalgh and sets the Met’s strategic objectives, has challenged the force to cut burglary by 20 per cent by 2016.
Both Mayor Johnson and Mr Greenhalgh say the use of traceable liquids will play “a significant role” in achieving that target.
Mr Johnson said: “Where deployed well, this clever liquid has been proven to slash rates of property crime, helping the police not only to apprehend burglars and return stolen property, but act as a major deterrent to would-be criminals.
“I want to see this technology introduced in all areas most at risk of burglary, and I am urging local authorities to join with us to invest in a roll-out of traceable liquids across all boroughs.”
Mr Greenhalgh said while the Met would always investigate crimes, Londoners wanted crimes not to happen in the first place and traceable liquids would play a part in fulfilling that wish.
He added: “We now know that this technology does what it says on the tin, giving our police another smart way to drive down crime and protect the public.”
