FOOTBALL hooligans will be marked with a DNA tagging spray which will stick to unruly yobs for months – helping cops to combat anti-social behaviour at games.
The cutting-edge SelectaDNA mist marks skin and clothing with an invisible liquid which will make it easier for cops to link misbehaving fans to crimes.
The spray can remain present for months on end – and its traces are revealed by shining UV light on it.
Cheshire Constabulary, among other UK police forces, are rolling out the new technology in a bid to tackle rising reports of football fan disorder.
They will use the spray at all League Two games in the region in attempt to stop increasing hooliganism kicking off at matches.
The rollout follows a successful trial at Crewe Alexandra’s home defeat to Port Vale in March.
Crewe’s opening home game of the season against Accrington Stanley on Saturday will be the first match to be policed with the new spray.
It comes less than a month after alarming statistics showed an 18 per cent increase in the number of matches in which disorder was reported across England and Wales.
Cops hope the tool will be a deterrent for anti-social behaviour at footy games.
The extremely fine mist contains uniquely-coded DNA an does not cause damage to skin, clothing or machinery.
But crucially, the firm behind it claim the solution is almost impossible to wash off – a key trait which will help catch offenders.
The new tech will serve as a stark warning to yobs that those planning to cause trouble at games will be caught.
SelectaDNA Intruder Spray kits will be introduced at a number of establishments nationwide as part of Operation Shield.
The force-wide initiative aims to deter burglars and thieves from committing crimes.
It is being led by Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley, who said: “Here at Cheshire Constabulary, we’re committed to doing all that we can to make the county a safer place for everyone, including football fans, and we’ll use all the resources available to us to help achieve our goal.
“When it comes to football, we already have a number of measures in place to keep fans safe and the DNA tagging kits are just another tool in our belt.”
He continued: “Starting from this weekend we’ll be equipping our football officers with the spray whenever they are policing any League Two matches in the county.
“While we’d much prefer not to have to use the spray, if required the officers will be able to use it to tag any offenders, with a uniquely-coded but invisible DNA that will provide forensic evidence to link them to any offences.”
He said he hoped that the tool would give “reassurance” to local communities who face rising concerns over their safety during football games.
SelectaDNA has also been used by police to combat theft in a range of industries across the UK, protecting things like farms, vehicles and cables from burglars.
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