POLICE will today be demonstrating how the latest technologies can be used to protect churches, schools, businesses and homes in Oxfordshire against burglary.

The Church of England has teamed up with experts in forensic security SmartWater to protect every church insured by specialists Ecclesiastical from metal thieves - totalling more than 16,500 churches.

SmartWater is a non-hazardous liquid which contains a DNA-style forensic code. Each building or business protected by the technology will receive its own unique SmartWater code, meaning marked items can be irrefutably traced back to the owner.

It also means criminals coming into contact with SmartWater can be linked with the crime scene. The solution is invisible under normal light, but glows brightly under UV light making it easily identifiable by the police.

Police are demonstrating the system today at All Saints Church, in Foxhall Road, Didcot.

The church has been targeted by thieves on a number of occasions.