SelectaDNA spray was deployed on a bike in Birmingham city centre recently as traffic officers were sent out to deal with off-road bikes in Birmingham who were causing a nuisance and threatening to disrupt an organised charity bike ride in the city.
Traffic officers worked together with the dog unit, neighbourhood officers, response, drones and the helicopter to track bikers who were tearing up streets and pedestrianised areas.
Four electric bikes were seized for being ridden without insurance and two people were arrested for a range of offences including failing to stop, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and possession of drugs.
Some of the bikes were seized, several others were sprayed with DNA tagging spray and enquiries are ongoing. DNA tagging spray marks the bikes, clothing and skin of riders and passengers with a uniquely-coded but invisible DNA that provides forensic evidence linking them to incidents they’ve been involved in.
Sergeant John Cartmell, from the West Midlands Police traffic unit said: “We are always working hard to keep the community and our roads safe. Our efforts to tackle off-road bikers and those who pose a danger to others forms part of a commitment to protect the public and prevent crime, and the use of DNA spray and stinger devices and teamwork is really making a positive difference.
“We’ve spoken about the use of DNA spray quite a few times in the past, but I think it’s interesting for people to know that we do use it, to understand how it works, and how it helps us bring people to justice for the crimes they commit even long after they were committed.
“As well as the DNA spray being used, about £20,000 worth of electric off-road bikes were seized. Our message to illegal off-road bikers is simple – if you are using the roads to commit traffic offences and behaving anti-socially on an off-road bike, you will be found.”
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