New DNA Tagging Product Launched To Identify Moped Criminals

Award-winning SelectaDNA forensic technology has been incorporated within a handheld device to create an effective new tagging product to deter and prevent personal attack and criminal behaviour, such as moped and motorcycle enabled crimes.

Working in partnership with UK police forces, the new SelectaDNA Tagging Spray from security company Selectamark Security Systems plc, can be aimed by officers at suspected illegal and anti-social scrambler bikes, as well as at mopeds and motorbikes involved in other crimes such as robberies, assaults and smash and grab raids.

The DNA tagging spray marks the bikes, clothing and skin of any riders and passengers with a uniquely-coded but invisible DNA that will provide forensic evidence to link them to a specific crime.

At the forefront of technology, the new tagging spray is set to be deployed by the Metropolitan Police to help tackle the massive social problems being caused in London by moped theft and acid attacks.

Meanwhile, the proven spray technology is already in use by officers from West Yorkshire Police, West Midlands Police, Cheshire Police and Merseyside Police as an effective strategy to deal with the anti-social riding of scrambler bikes.

Merseyside Police have used the defence spray to secure two convictions for anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving; and West Yorkshire Police have another offender in custody, awaiting trial in October.

Inspector Paul Sullivan of West Yorkshire Police said: "The primary problem in pursuing any prosecutions against suspected offenders revolves around lack of identification evidence. A lack of witness testimony and forensic opportunities means that it is very difficult to secure sufficient evidence to support charges."

One means of bridging this gap is to deploy a product that can resolve the identification problem. The SelectaDNA Tagging Spray can be sprayed by officers at suspected illegal and antisocial scrambler bikes, marking the bikes, clothing and skin of any riders and passengers with a uniquely coded but invisible dye. If suspects are arrested or bikes recovered, the DNA code will link offenders to bikes and any associated criminal offences. Once deployed the spray can be detected under ultraviolet light, which is already a standard feature in police custody suites.

"The solution can be projected onto a suspect without causing any harm whatsoever and will remain detectable for weeks and months on clothing and indefinitely on footwear," said Inspector Sullivan.

Once the offender has come into contact with the solution, officers can later carry out follow up visits to known suspects' home addresses armed with handheld UV lamps to detect the product on the person, clothing and footwear.

"Where there is a positive reaction to SelectaDNA, the suspect will be arrested and clothing will be seized," said Inspector Sullivan.

James Brown, MD of Selectamark, said: "This is a great example of how innovative technology is helping police catch criminals and remove anti-social offenders and dangerous drivers from our streets. It only takes a tiny drop of DNA spray to tag and identify an offender and this tactic will undoubtedly lead to more seizures and prosecutions."

Selectamark also provides search dogs to detect SelectaDNA forensic markers on offenders. In partnership with Search Dogs UK, the dogs are the first in the world to be trained to sniff out SelectaDNA markings and have assisted UK police forces in several operations.