Wiltshire Police explores forensic spray technology for e-bikes

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 15:14 · Archive

Wiltshire Police is exploring a forensic spray that marks riders with invisible DNA to link them to crimes.

Wiltshire Police is exploring the use of a spray technology produced by Selecta DNA to combat crime involving e-bikes, e-scooters and motorcycles. The technology marks the bikes, clothing and skin of riders and passengers with uniquely-coded invisible DNA that provides forensic evidence to link them to a specific crime.

According to the firm's website, the Tagging Spray 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.

Wiltshire Police is not currently using the technology and has no data on deployments or active trials, but is looking into how it might be used. This follows similar trials of SmartTag technology by other police forces. SmartTag can fire a traceable forensic spray from up to 10 metres away, allowing officers to potentially link a rider to a particular incident.

The handheld SmartTag device was unveiled in August as part of a broader crackdown on e-bikes, e-scooters and motorcycles causing concern on roads, pavements and in public spaces.

Wiltshire Police explores forensic spray technology for e-bikes — Image: Swindon Advertiser

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How it is being reported

Police exploring use of new weapon to deal with e-bikes and e-scootersPolice in Swindon and Wiltshire are exploring options for a new technology to combat crime as other forces crack down on e-bikes.Swindon Advertiser · 8 Oct, 14:35
Police exploring use of new weapon to deal with e-bikes and e-scootersPolice in Swindon and Wiltshire are exploring options for a new technology to combat crime as other forces crack down on e-bikes.Wiltshire Times · 8 Oct, 14:35
Wiltshire Police exploring use of new weapon to deal with e-bikes and e-scootersPolice in Swindon and Wiltshire are exploring options for a new technology to combat crime as other forces crack down on e-bikes.Gazette & Herald · 8 Oct, 14:09

In this story: Wiltshire Police · Selecta DNA · SmartTag · Swindon · Wiltshire

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