SECURITY SYSTEM: Management at National Irish Bank (NIB) were left with red faces yesterday as a demonstration of a new security system at a Dublin branch prompted a real-life Garda response.

Local gardaí, unaware that NIB would be staging mock robberies as part of the demonstration, rushed to confront the gang when they were alerted by passers-by. But the thieves were actors staging the event for the benefit of TV cameras.

The result was an irate Garda officer who took senior bank management aside for a stern lecture on wasting Garda time, before a detective invited by the bank to review the system intervened to ease the situation.

Ironically, the SmartWater security system is designed to act as a deterrent to robberies as much as a method of catching criminals, resulting in fewer calls to local police.

"During a recent trial at the Old Bailey in London, it was disclosed by a member of an armed robbery gang that they actively avoided banks that displayed the distinctive SmartWater signage, as they believed the risks of prosecution were too high," said Mr Philip Cleary, chief executive of SmartWater and a former detective sergeant in Britain.

The system uses a non-toxic solution impregnated with a DNA-type coding. During a robbery it will be activated, spraying robbers with the colourless solution as they run out of a branch.

Each batch of SmartWater is uniquely formulated and exclusively assigned to a particular branch. Once an individual has been in contact with the solution, it is difficult to wash it off. When a suspect is arrested, ultra-violet light detects the solution, which will glow yellow. A swab is then taken of the solution for forensic analysis to identify the formula, thereby pinpointing the suspect to the exact scene of the crime.

"What we're saying to the criminal fraternity is there is a risk they're leaving evidence that will last for months. It's like a 'sword of Damocles' hanging over their heads," said Mr Cleary. The system is being given a trial run by NIB in the College Green branch and by its sister bank Northern Bank in a branch in Northern Ireland.

"We want to send a strong message to any potential robbers that we are serious about protecting our staff, customers and businesses," said Mr Larry Moylan, senior manager at NIB.