The Merlin is the first detector of its type to be brought to market which has been developed, specifically, to acoustically sense aerosol-propelled spray paints and, in conjunction with a siren or connection to an alarm or CCTV control room, provide a proactive deterrent to what is an unsightly and costly social problem.

Shortlisted in the highly competitive 'Security Innovation of the Year' category, the low visibility Merlin Graffiti Detector (MDG-S) is similar in size and cost, and no more difficult to fit, than a standard PIR detector. The unique feature of the Merlin is the sophisticated heuristics and algorithms that enable it to distinguish quickly the specific sound of aerosol paint being sprayed and provide an alert in, typically, 5-8 seconds. Wall mounted at a height of 4.5 metres, or fitted to a CCTV tower, an individual unit can protect up to 7.5 metres over a 120 degree field of coverage below the sensor, based on a typical aerosol paint spray height of 1.2 metres. Multiple devices can also be linked together to protect even larger areas and the Merlin has been designed for ease of installation with no manual detector configuration required.

Said Ian Moore, Managing Director, Elmdene International Limited: "We are delighted that the Merlin Graffiti Detector has been shortlisted by the judges in the Security Excellence Awards 2011, following on as it does from our success at IFSEC. The highly flexible Merlin is certainly a strong contender for the 'Security Innovation of the Year' Award given its potential to stop graffiti vandals in their tracks, thanks to the revolutionary techniques it employs, rather than simply having to rely on costly physical measures or easy-clean coatings, to deal with a problem which is costing UK local authorities alone more than £1 billion a year."