The police will use forensic spray in some parts of the UK to crack down on illegal acts related to e-bikes and scooters. First used by North Wales Police, Operation Vroom involves officers in the Rhyl and Denbighshire Coastal district given Smart Tag forensic spray.
The spray is only visible with a UV light, with the solution using a “unique forensic code” that relates to the pressure of the can it was sprayed from. This makes it easier to link a suspect and vehicle to the scene of a crime.
Police hope that this will help them catch offenders. These vehicles, according to the BBC, are often linked to drug supply, theft, and anti-social behaviour. Riders often conceal their identities with hoodies or face coverings.
That part of Wales has seen many complaints from residents and local councils, according to the police. This includes the Abergele, Rhuddlan, and Prestatyn areas, with police dealing with reports of riders causing disruption while illegally riding e-bikes and scooters at high speeds.
The forensic spray will be adopted by officers “immediately,” Sgt Iwan Hughes said, as they currently face some limits when trying to catch offenders on two wheels.
“Traditional methods of apprehension are simply not viable in these circumstances,” he said. “We need a solution that allows us to act safely and effectively without escalating risk.”
By using the spray, officers can mark an offender without having to physically pursue them and “endanger the public officers, and the individual riders,” according to the police.
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