As part of Operation Brookdale, two men have been arrested in Merseyside as a result of using SelectaDNA Defence Spray to identify offenders on scrambler bikes.
A Merseyside Police officer deployed the spray to mark the two men after they were spotted riding a scrambler bike dangerously around the Croxteth Park area of the city.
Criminal use of scrambler bikes has been blighting Merseyside for the past few years, on the streets and off-road illegally. The issue is not just isolated to Merseyside, as other major cities such as Manchester and Belfast are also seeing problems.
Merseyside is the first force to deploy the handheld spray devices as a new feature of their annual Operation Brookdale, which targets nuisance and criminal use of scrambler bikes. The Operation has resulted in a record 200-plus scrambler bike seizures this year and 150 arrests.
The compact Defence Spray can be aimed by officers at suspected illegal and anti-social scrambler bikes, or at mopeds and motorbikes involved in other crimes such as robberies and smash and grabs. It marks 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 machines and any associated criminal offences.
With the aid of the National Police Air Service, a search of the local area led to the arrest of the two men in Prescot and the discovery of two more scrambler bikes nearby. They were then taken into police custody where they were positively identified thanks to the SelectaDNA liquid traces found on their skin and clothing. Both men have since been charged; with dangerous driving; and with aiding and abetting dangerous driving.
The two men had DNA Defence Spray on their faces, hair, hands and clothing.
Insp Tony Byrne of the Dogs and Mounted section of the Merseyside Police said: “The spray means that if you attempt to drive dangerously near to our officers, you are not untouchable. Even a drop of DNA spray will mark riders and their bikes for a long time, and this tactic will undoubtedly lead to more seizures and prosecutions. One spray will put you away!”
