Cheshire Police will become the first force in the UK to equip officers with DNA tagging spray at all League Two matches, aiming to deter and identify football hooligans. The spray, supplied by SelectaDNA, marks individuals with a uniquely-coded invisible solution that provides forensic evidence linking them to a crime or event. It shows up under UV light and clings to skin and clothing for months.
The decision follows a trial at the Crewe Alexandra versus Port Vale match in March. The rollout begins this weekend at the Crewe Alexandra versus Accrington Stanley game. The spray can also be used against offenders on electric scooters, eBikes, and off-road bikes as part of Operation Shield, a broader initiative to deter burglars and thieves.
Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley stated: 'We’ll be equipping our football officers with the spray whenever they are policing any League Two matches in the county.' He added that the spray would provide reassurance to communities. Chief Constable Mark Roberts, NPCC lead for football policing, welcomed the move, saying it would help identify and deter criminals.
However, Kevin Miles, chief executive of the Football Supporters Association, criticised the deployment, expressing concerns that innocent bystanders could be wrongly caught up in criminal proceedings. The spray has previously been used by Merseyside Police to tackle shoplifting.
