DNA SPRAY LEADS TO 70% FALL IN CRIME
Northumbria Police to get more funding after pilot success
‘We knew that there was serious criminality’
Acommunity safety partnership in Newcastle has helped fund DNA spray for a new police taskforce to help tackle motorcycle crime in the North East. Northumbria Police first set up a specialist team for motorcycle-related crime in October after investigations found that stolen motorcycles often enabled more serious criminality. Just before Christmas, the team used this information to seize stolen property, fake numberplates, drugs and even weapons. This work, supported by the use of DNA spray, has already led to a significant reduction in crime, with the pilot scheme in Sunderland and South Tyneside reporting a 70% fall. The Safe Newcastle board has now provided the police with muchneeded funding to deploy the spray more widely. A greater number of officers will now carry the canisters, which allows them to spray a uniquely coded dye onto individuals, tying them to a specific crime.
“We set up this team because we knew there was serious criminality linked to what, on the face of it, appeared to be anti-social behaviour and nuisance motorcycle activity,” says Detective Inspector Mal Stratton, who heads up the police crime team. “There may be some who think these are just bored teenagers who have nowhere to ride their motorcycles, but that is not the case.
“Over the past few weeks we have seized significant quantities of drugs, a huge amount of weapons and a host of stolen motorcycles. Our task force have been able to do that because they have used a host of different tactics and this DNA spray is just another weapon in their armoury. “We will use it in our plans to target serious criminals but we will also look at preventative tactics, that include identifying diversionary programmes for young people. We want the public to report issues with motorcycle disorder directly to our task force because it is the public who are eyes and ears in the community.” Inspector Phil Baker, who covers South Shields where the pilot was introduced in September said the new equipment has proved especially useful for officers on his patch.
He said: “Often we know those involved in offending but trying to secure the evidence to bring forward a successful conviction can be difficult. This DNA spray has been a huge success in our area but we are not complacent and will continue to be proactive. I hope that the task force can replicate the successes we have seen in our area.”