New weapon in fight against rising shop crime

Police in Leeds are set to start using a new weapon in their fight against growing levels of retail crime and antisocial behaviour.

- by Charles Gray

Police officers and PCSOs across the West Yorkshire region will now start using the Selecta DNA tagging spray following successful trials in Wakefield and Leeds.

The handheld spray marks offenders, their clothing and their skin with a uniquely-coded invisible DNA mark.

The fine mist produced is harmless to the skin and does not damage clothing or machinery, but it cannot be washed off and can only be seen under ultraviolet light.