Phil Cleary
Phil Cleary MA FRSA is a British author, journalist, and former police officer best known as the co-founder and CEO of SmartWater, a forensic technology company credited with pioneering traceable liquid solutions to deter theft and support criminal investigations. Cleary has written extensively on policing, cyber-fraud, and institutional accountability, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.[1] His published thrillers and op-eds have appeared in national and international outlets, including commentary on legal proportionality, media ethics, and speculative policing.
Early life and education
Cleary was born in Liverpool to an Irish father and English mother. He has two siblings: an elder brother, Mike, and a younger sister, Cath. He studied electronics at Liverpool Polytechnic (now Liverpool John Moores University) before joining the police in 1979; he left the force in 1990 following a road traffic accident. After leaving the the police, Cleary founded his own security consultancy. Then, in 1995, he launched SmartWater Technology Ltd with his brother Mike, combining forensic science and crime prevention strategy.
In 2024, Cleary was awarded a Master of Arts in Military History from the University of Birmingham.[2]
Career
SmartWater
In the early 1990s, Cleary co-founded SmartWater Technology Ltd with his brother Mike Cleary, a chemist.[3] The company developed forensic marking solutions used to deter theft and assist criminal investigations. Under Cleary’s leadership as CEO, SmartWater expanded into international markets, trading in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States.[4] By the time of his retirement in 2021, the company employed nearly 200 staff and had secured major public and private sector contracts.[5][6]
In 1996, SmartWater received the Prince of Wales Award for Innovation, recognising its contribution to crime prevention and forensic technology.[7] Cleary also launched the SmartWater Strategy in partnership with the Metropolitan Police, to protect 440,000 homes, following a successful trial which resulted in an 85% reduction in household burglaries in Brent.[8]
Journalism and commentary
Cleary has written extensively on policing, cyber-fraud, and institutional accountability, often challenging institutional bias and advocating for legal reform. His journalism includes commentary on free speech, speculative policing technologies, and the ethical dimensions of life extension. Notable articles include:
- Britain’s Free Speech Crisis: Are We Sleepwalking into Authoritarianism?, published in the ESN Report.[9]
- Meet the Crimefighters of 2055: The Bots in Blue, published in The European.[10]
- Elixir by Phil Cleary, also in The European.[11]
Fiction writing
Cleary is the author of Elixir, a thriller exploring the ethical and scientific risks of life extension research. The novel has received coverage in multiple media outlets and was described by Kirkus Reviews as “a perfectly calibrated thriller, memorable for how closely it cleaves to reality.”[12] The European called it “a blistering thriller that reframes mankind’s dream for immortality into a global threat greater than AI.”[13] The London Economic praised it as “pure dynamite,” noting its potential for adaptation by Netflix or Hollywood.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag[14]
Recognition and affiliations
Cleary was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts in 2009 for his contributions to innovation and entrepreneurship.[15]
Personal life
Cleary resides in Hampshire, England, with his wife, Melanie. He is known for his strategic and emotionally attuned approach to public commentary and is actively involved in shaping debate around legal proportionality, media ethics, and institutional reform.
See also
References
- ↑ Global Asbestos Forum – Speaker Profile
- ↑ Phil Cleary – About
- ↑ SmartWater – Wikipedia
- ↑ Boynton Beach Police Department – SmartWater CSI
- ↑ The Telegraph – 22 March 2021
- ↑ Shropshire Star – 2 Nov 2021
- ↑ Building – Outsmarting the Criminals
- ↑ Phil Cleary – About
- ↑ ESN Report – Free Speech Crisis
- ↑ The European – Bots in Blue
- ↑ The European – Elixir
- ↑ Kirkus Reviews – Elixir
- ↑ The European – Elixir
- ↑ Palamedes PR – Author Announcement
- ↑ Global Asbestos Forum – Speaker Profile
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