Domestic abuser caught breaching restraining order with UV technology
A man has become the first domestic abuser to be jailed after being caught breaching a restraining order by a forensic security marking technology more commonly used to prevent bike thefts.
SmartWater can be sprayed on objects and is invisible to the naked eye but it becomes highly visible under UV light. Each canister of spray can be given a unique chemical code, allowing police to irrefutably link it to the person or object on which it has been sprayed.
David Buen, a convicted domestic abuser who was subject to a restraining order, was identified after he breached the court order by visiting his former partner at her home.
The woman had been provided with a SmartWater kit and used it to mark Buen during his visit to her home. When arrested, Buen was placed under an ultraviolet light which showed the SmartWater on his skin and clothing.
Officers took photographs of this and showed them to Buen during his police interview. As a result, he admitted the offence.
The 52-year-old, of no fixed address, was charged with breaching a restraining order. He appeared at Derby Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to the breach and to committing an offence during the operational period of a suspended sentence.
He was jailed for a total of 32 weeks and also given a 10-year Stalking Protection Order. It is believed to be the first domestic abuse case where SmartWater has been used in the evidential chain.
‘Victim terrified in her own home’
Pc Oliver Swindell, who led the investigation, said: “Buen has shown a blatant disregard for both the woman’s wishes to be left alone and for court orders designed to prevent him from contacting her. His actions have left her terrified and even feeling unsafe in her own home, the one place where she should always be secure.
“This is now Buen’s second stint in prison for breaching this order so it is hoped he will now understand the seriousness and consequences of his actions and will abide by the rules of the court upon his release.
He added: “The use of SmartWater in this case not only offered reassurance to the victim but also helped prevent her having to go to court when Buen entered an early guilty plea after being shown the photographic evidence during his police interview leading to him fully admitting this offence.
“I know this case has had a major impact on the victim so I hope that she will now be able to begin to look to the future and make a start on rebuilding her life.”
West Yorkshire is one of three forces, along with South Yorkshire and West Mercia, that have deployed smart water technology to combat domestic abuse.
They are deploying the water in devices hidden in the victims’ homes that spray or tag the abuser so that if they breach a court order banning them from approaching their ex-partner they can be prosecuted.
Any potential perpetrator is told that their victim’s home has been protected by SmartWater to deter them from breaching any order.
However, they are not told how the SmartWater might be deployed, whether through a spray secreted in a doorway or a handheld device, so they cannot take precautionary measures.
The technology, which was first deployed by South Yorkshire Police, has already been credited with reducing domestic abuse incidents by up to 69 per cent in the homes where it has been installed. Nearly two-thirds also reported no further victimisation.
Buen is believed to be the first person jailed for breaching a restraining order as a result of SmartWater being deployed. In 2022, a man was convicted for breaching a non-molestation order after being sprayed with SmartWater.