Expert Witness Journal Issue 63 October 2025 - Flipbook - Page 121
O昀케cers to Deploy Forensic Spray
in Crackdown on E-Scooter and
Bike-Related ASB
An innovative new tactic to combat rising incidents of anti-social behaviour (ASB)
will soon be implemented in the Rhyl and Denbighshire Coastal district.
With a particular focus on the illegal use of
e-scooters and push-bikes, the initiative will see
o昀케cers equipped with the Smart Tag forensic
spray—a tool designed to safely and discreetly mark
o昀昀enders for later identi昀椀cation.
in complaints from residents and local councils,
including Abergele, Rhuddlan and Prestatyn,
regarding youths causing disruption while illegally
riding electric bikes and scooters at high speeds.
Individual riders often conceal their identities with
hoods and face coverings to avoid detection.
The Smart Tag solution has a unique forensic code
relating to the pressurised cannister it was sprayed
from, which can link a suspect and vehicle to the
scene of an o昀昀ence.
These behaviours have made it increasingly di昀케cult
for o昀케cers to intervene or identify suspects during
patrols.
To achieve this, o昀케cers will use a UV light to scan
the o昀昀ender’s clothing and bike, which will highlight
the bright yellow solution to show that they have
been tagged.
Sergeant Iwan Hughes acknowledged the scale
of the problem and the limitations o昀케cers face in
pursuing o昀昀enders on bikes.
He said: “Traditional methods of apprehension are simply
not viable in these circumstances. We need a solution that
allows us to act safely and e昀昀ectively without escalating
risk.
The initiative forms part of Operation Vroom, which
is speci昀椀cally targeting the illegal use of e-bikes and
e-scooters across the force area.
These vehicles are frequently linked to drug supply,
theft, and anti-social behaviour and pose serious
risks to pedestrians, road users, and the riders
themselves.
“The Smart Tag forensic spray o昀昀ers a promising
alternative. When deployed, it coats the suspect in a
traceable liquid that is invisible to the naked eye but
detectable under UV light.
In recent months, the district has seen a surge
“A forensic marker can later be linked directly to the
incident, providing robust evidential support for further
action.
“This approach will be adopted imminently by o昀케cers
across the district.”
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
119
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2025
