DNA Spray Kick-Starts Solution To Scrambler Crime

Transcription

1 School Break-Ins Reduced by 70% International Arrests Protecting Tools Of The Trade Preventing Truck & Container Theft PAGE 3 PAGES 4-5 PAGES 6-7 PAGE 12 Newsletter ISSUE 19 Security... It s in our DNA! DNA Spray Kick-Starts Solution To Scrambler Crime The anti-social riding of scrambler bikes continues to cause problems across the UK, and West Yorkshire Police are the latest force to be deploying the SelectaDNA Defence Spray as a new and effective strategy to deal with offenders driving these illegal and nuisance off-road bikes. Behaviour escalates when youths threaten members of the public and assault police who are attempting to prevent their conduct. Over the past 12 months, areas such as Wakefield in West Yorkshire, have seen a massive 41% increase in the use of stolen motor bikes and scooters. West Mercia, Warwickshire and Staffordshire are reporting increased thefts and anti-social behaviour on motorcycles across their counties. Reports indicate that young men and even children have been stealing bikes and using them locally on public highways without any training, protective equipment, licences or insurance. Riders continue to place themselves and others at risk of serious injury and death as they ride on roads, footpaths and public areas with little regard for safety. Inspector Paul Sullivan of West Yorkshire Police said: The primary problem in pursuing any prosecutions against suspected offenders revolves around lack of identification evidence. A lack of witness testimony and forensic opportunities means that it is very difficult to secure sufficient evidence to support charges. A high percentage of the bikes used are off-road motocross bikes, often ridden with no MOT or insurance. Statistics suggest that up to 40% of the bikes seized through specific operations were stolen. One means of bridging this gap is to deploy a product that can resolve the identification problem. The SelectaDNA Defence Spray can be sprayed by officers at suspected illegal and antisocial scrambler bikes, marking the bikes, clothing and skin of any riders and passengers with a uniquely coded but invisible dye. If suspects are arrested or bikes recovered, the DNA code will link offenders to bikes and any associated criminal offences. Once deployed the spray can be detected under ultraviolet light, which is already a standard feature in police custody suites. The solution can be projected onto a suspect without causing any harm whatsoever and will remain detectable for weeks and months on clothing and indefinitely on footwear, said Inspector Sullivan. Once the offender has come into contact with the solution, officers from West Yorkshire Police will later carry out follow up visits to known suspects home addresses armed with handheld UV lamps to detect the product on the person, clothing and footwear. Where there is a positive reaction to SelectaDNA, the suspect will be arrested and clothing will be seized, said Inspector Sullivan. One offender who tested positive for SelectaDNA is currently in custody, awaiting trial in October. 1

2 Tackling The Scrambler Bike Epidemic Merseyside Police was the first UK force to deploy the handheld spray devices to combat scrambler crime. This resulted in Connor Gibney and Isaac Senior (pictured), both 18 years of age, being arrested and charged with dangerous driving as part of Operation Brookdale. The two men had incriminating DNA Defence Spray on their faces, hair, hands and clothing. Inspector Tony Byrne of the Dogs and Mounted section of the Merseyside Police said: Acts of anti-social behaviour, dangerous driving and intimidation against members of our communities and our officers will not be tolerated, and this is another great tool in finding and prosecuting offenders. What Does The Law Say? In law, off road motorbikes are regarded as motor vehicles which must be constructed to a specific standard in order to be ridden on a public highway. Most off road motorbikes do not meet this standard. Visit the Department for Transport s website ( for more information. In addition to meeting construction requirements, off road motorbikes also need the following if they are to be used on a public highway: DVLA registration (log book) Road tax A valid MOT Fitted with lights Fitted with registration plates Type approval The rider must also: Be aged 17 or over (or 16 if the vehicle meets the definition of a moped) Hold a valid driving licence Have valid motor insurance Wear suitable safety equipment (e.g. a motorbike helmet) If the above conditions are not met, it is illegal to ride an off road motorbike on the road. If you own or ride one of these vehicles it is your responsibility to know the law. Failure to comply is a criminal offence and may result in prosecution under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Police Reform Act Police Reform Act Where a motor vehicle is used in a careless, inconsiderate manner or is ridden off road causing or likely to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to any member of the public, police have powers to stop the rider/driver. However, challenges arise when suspects are being followed (by car or helicopter) when they have willingly removed their helmets. If following a warning the person continues to offend, police can seize and remove the vehicle. A police officer can also enter any premises with force if necessary to exercise these powers. MAG (Motorcycle Action Group) are being supported by Selectamark at several forthcoming events (July 1st and August 12th). Together with West Midlands Police, discounted kits are being offered to those who attended and are interested in protecting their motorcycle. 2

3 School Break-Ins Reduced By More Than 70% Break-ins at over 60 schools in Wolverhampton have plummeted by more than 70% following the use of SelectaDNA forensic marking kits to protect valuable ICT equipment from theft. Wolverhampton City Council eservices team funded the use of SelectaDNA to schools to which they supply ICT equipment including Merridale Primary School and Stow Heath Primary School. The crime reduction scheme was launched just over a year ago (March 2016) and was backed by West Midlands Police following a spate of burglaries at school premises. The initiative involved marking electronic equipment including computers and ipads supplied to 61 local schools. It has reduced break-ins by an impressive 71%. More than 20 schools were not supported with DNA kits and crime subsequently doubled in those schools over the same time period. This indicates that thieves left DNAmarked schools alone but targeted those that weren t protected. SelectaDNA is a substance which can invisibly mark valuable items such as laptops, ipads and iphones without affecting their value. It contains a unique code that when scanned relates to a corresponding record on a secure database. Criminals know about forensic marking and fear its ability to forensically link them with the scene of a crime. Marking valuable assets and advertising this fact with deterrent warning signage sends out a clear message to any potential thieves or burglars operating in the area and deters them from targeting the premises. There had been 14 school break-ins in Wolverhampton in the previous 12 months before the project started. PC Diane Shepherd, West Midlands Police, said: Although the number of school breakins was relatively low, the value of the thefts was high due to the amount of equipment stolen. She continued: My colleague and I provided training to the eservices team on how best to mark the equipment at qualifying locations. This was carried out between March and August last year. The deterrent aspect (of SelectaDNA) appears to have been a great success, confirmed PC Shepherd. 3

4 International News Construction Arrests News in Brief Sitting Comfortably Danish police recently found a valuable item of furniture as they were searching a criminal s house. Police thought the designer chair (pictured) looked out of place, so checked it over for forensic markings. To their surprise, the chair was marked with SelectaDNA and was valued at over 20, Three people from Romania were arrested in Oslo in possession of suspected stolen goods. The police checked the items for SelctaDNA markings and found DNA-coded microdots on them. After running the code through the SelectaDNA international database, police were able to trace the items back to a Danish construction company from where the goods were stolen in November Supermarket Robbery Arrest A 32-year-old man from Denmark who committed armed robbery at a Rema 1000 supermarket in Rønnede, was caught after being sprayed with SelectaDNA Intruder Spray, an invisible forensic spray that is activated at the store s exit. Peter Bruun, director of security at Rema 1000 in Denmark, said: The robber was sprayed with our SelectaDNA spray that we had installed in all 286 stores. DNA Spray is a very crucial robbery security solution, because it contains a unique tracer that cannot be washed off. It will stay on the sprayed parts of the body for three to four weeks until the skin cells are replaced. We installed these spray systems during said Mr Bruun. Over the course of a year, we experienced no robberies at all. This is great for our employees and for our customers. I am pleased that the thief was caught very quickly in Rønnede and this is due to the SelectaDNA Spray. There is no denying that the person who was sprayed was the actual thief. he confirmed. Reassurance For Repeat Victims A man who has recently been burgled twice is one of a group of residents in South New Zealand to be given a SelectaDNA forensic marking kit to protect his belongings. On the second occasion, Matthew Shultz, a resident of Invercargill, came home one afternoon with his daughter when he noticed a car at the front of his property parked in an odd place. Mr Shultz confronted a man on his property who turned out to be a burglar who fled the property. The burglar left his car at the property and when police searched it, they found a horde of items from other burglaries. While Mr Shultz got all his property back, the incident has had a huge impact, with his daughter now scared to be at home, Schultz said. Mr Schultz is one of a group of burglary victims who has received a SelectaDNA kit from police so he can mark his property to deter future criminals.

5 INTERNATIONAL International News Continued Car Theft Reduction Irish First From January to March 2017, only eight car thefts were reported in the city of Sliedrecht in the Netherlands, which equates to a 66% reduction overall. This is the lowest figure over a three month period. From October to December 2016, there were 24 incidents reported. The reduction is attributed to a city-funded Selectamark vehicle marking project that targeted a neighbourhood of Sliedrecht that was particularly popular with thieves Car crime figures from surrounding cities in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond area show no decline over the same period. The good news is spreading. Since the beginning of the trial in Sliedrecht four other cities have announced similar programmes. Continuing Success A recent survey in Hemelingen, a district in Bremen, Germany, has shown that homes belonging to a Citizens Initiative (Anwohner-initiative) are 50% less likely to be burgled than homes in neighbouring areas. A Citizens Initiative involves groups of neighbours coming together to deter residential burglary by collectively marking their household possessions with SelectaDNA. Special warning signs are placed in streets where the initiative is active. Over 40 Citizen Initiatives are in operation in Hemelingen, and over 200 have been set up in Bremen since Thomas Wollborn of Bremen Police confirmed that SelectaDNA property marking had played a key role in this success and the fact that residents had joined forces in these initiatives is also a major contributor to the impressive reduction in crime. Topaz, the largest fuel and convenience brand in Ireland, is linking up with SelectaDNA to trial the DNA Spray system at several of its service stations. Topaz chose the system to safeguard staff from robbery and is the first fuel company in Ireland to do so. SelectaDNA Spray, which soaks intruders in a solution containing a unique DNA code and UV tracer, is the ultimate commercial burglary and robbery deterrent, and an ideal way for businesses, shops, banks and other premises to protect their valuable stock and assets. Look out for more details on this exciting new partnership in our next newsletter. Farm Protection Tackling rural crime using SelectaDNA is a key focus for police in the Clutha district of New Zealand following the recent appointment of Senior Sergeant Cynthia Fairley to a new role as Area Response Manager. Already familiar with the technology from her time working in the Southland region, she is introducing SelectaDNA to the district to protect farm equipment. Even the SelectaDNA sign can be a deterrent, she said. It s a message to criminals don t bother. It s a great tool, and the sort of stuff people can do to keep themselves safe, and to protect their property. Safe Security Partnership SelectaDNA has teamed up with Insafe, the leading British safe manufacturer, to bring their customers a comprehensive security solution to protect their jewellery and valuables. Anyone who purchases an Insafe safe will now also be offered a SelectaDNA kit to mark items of value with an inconspicuous, unique, synthetic DNA formula which is virtually impossible to remove. Once marked, clients can easily register their possessions on SelectaDNA s Police and Insurance Approved Secure Asset Register. Then if the worst should happen and the possessions are stolen or lost, but are later recovered, police from around the world will be able to identify them and return them quickly and easily. The pack also contains warning stickers to deter thieves and warn them that possessions are protected. 5

6 Protecting Tools Of The Trade Preferred Supplier Preferred supplier of leading insurance companies For tradesmen such as builders, electricians and construction workers tools are an essential part of their work and livelihood. They have often taken years to build up their toolkits and not only do they represent a large financial investment, often costing hundreds, if not thousands of pounds, but without them tradesman are unable to earn a living. Tools are frequently stolen from job sites, vans and construction sites. Approximately 10% of tools used on UK construction sites are lost or stolen each year; and around 49,000 work related vehicles are stolen. It s not uncommon for tradesmen to lose both their vehicle and their equipment. Thieves can be deterred by forensically marking tools with the new SelectaDNA Tools and Equipment kit which also helps recover items and equipment in the event of theft. By marking each valuable item with SelectaDNA a unique formula of DNA, UV tracer and microdots - and displaying a warning sticker in your vehicle, then the chances of theft are reduced dramatically. The kit marks approximately 50 items of equipment including drills, angle grinders and hand tools. Vans can also be protected against theft with the SelectaDNA Van and Commercial Vehicle Kit which uses SelectaDNA for whole body marking and Selectamark window etching. Scaffold tubes are another popular target. Mark Group, an energy installation company successfully protected its equipment from theft at construction sites across the UK by using SelectaDNA Trace technology which is designed for the protection and identification of valuable metals and outdoor equipment. Another option is the SelectaDNA Kit to mark plant and machinery including excavators, compressors and even cranes. As an additional feature to protect the scaffold tubes and visibly identify them as belonging to the Mark Group, the company used personalised TESA Security labels, which have an extremely high tack adhesive and are resistant to tampering, chemicals and temperatures of -40 C to 270 C. They are ideal for outdoor use and are the most secure and durable label option. A spokesperson from Mark Group said: Using SelectaDNA in combination with TESA labels is having a massive effect on making sure thieves stay away from our materials. 6

7 Police Tip: Mark Tools With SelectaDNA Police in Slough are urging tradespeople to mark their tools with SelectaDNA following a number of thefts from unattended vans. According to police, the types of vans targeted include the Citroen Berlingo, Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit, Fiat Ducato and Peugeot Partner. All of the offences have taken place overnight, and have occurred on residential roads or hotel car parks across the Borough. Tools have been stolen on each occasion. Det Sgt Madoc-Jones, from local CID in Slough, said: I would like to warn local residents and trades people about the current increase in offences toward unattended vans and to take additional care with their vehicles and property, as well as considering additional security measures for their vans. We are seeing a continuing trend in Slough, which is mirrored in neighbouring areas, of unattended vans being targeted by criminals for tools. I am very aware that tools are extremely valuable and can have a huge impact on small businesses when stolen. It is really important that tradesmen and tradeswomen take action now to secure their vehicles over and above the standard provided by vehicle manufacturers. Please consider installing lock boxes, additional interior alarms, and above all mark your tools and other property. Marking property using etching tools and SelectaDNA is preferable. This is essential in helping us identify victim s property when we recover suspected stolen property. Watch our NEW How-To Videos at Race Debut For SelectaDNA Swift SelectaDNA is being introduced to the motor racing community through a partnership with Red Rose Racing. The team is currently competing in the Hillclimb and Sprint Association s National Speed Championship in a 1992 Swift SC92 Formula Ford single-seater powered by a Ford Kent 1600 engine. The car is entered as the SelectaDNA Swift and is being driven by Geoff Lancaster from the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs. Geoff had previously used the SelectaDNA Classic Car Kit to protect another of his cars, a road-going Maserati. Geoff said: Racing cars are extremely vulnerable, with no locks or alarms and some don t even have unique chassis markings. Also racers have lots of expensive kit lying around like tools, wheels and tyres, generators and even trailers. My advice to my fellow competitors is to mark up everything. 7

8 Celebrating Shield s Success The success of Cheshire police s highly successful antiburglary campaign Operation Shield, which uses SelectaDNA to protect rural communities, has been celebrated at a recent event. Since October 2016 the beat team for rural south areas area of Chester Local Policing team have visited over 3,300 homes across the county. PC Gerard Gigg, who has led the SelectaDNA roll-out, said: The Shield initiative demonstrates that the Constabulary is continuing to tackle rural crime in all its forms, sending out a clear message that Cheshire will not be a soft touch for criminals. Following the success, the roll-out will continue over the next few months, with an additional 3,000 homes expected to join the scheme by the end of August, taking the total number of properties to over 6,300 spread across 21 rural parishes. PC Gigg added: The feedback regarding the initiative has been extremely positive. As we move forward it is my aim that every property across the area is signed up to the scheme, helping to shield residents from potential offenders. Deputy Police and Crime Commissioners for Cheshire Sareda Dirir said: I m really impressed by the work that PC Gigg and his team have carried out in the Rural West Cheshire area. I know that local residents are grateful for the work that they do and I look forward to seeing the progress of this fantastic initiative. Bypassing Crime With Costain Thousands of homes and businesses near a new bypass in rural Cheshire are being protected from burglary thanks to the use of SelectaDNA in a new police and industry partnership. Due to the success of Operation Shield, which has already recorded up to 83% reduction in domestic burglaries across Cheshire, police have now linked-up with Costain, builders of the new A556 Knutsford to Bowdon bypass. Chris Burrows, Costain Community Liaison Manager for the A556 Knutsford to Bowdon project said: Costain are very pleased to be actively involved with the Cheshire Constabulary initiative and assisting with something that will have long lasting benefits to the local communities. PC Mike Dawber, Rural Beat Officer for Knutsford added: We have worked hard to tackle rural criminality in Cheshire. The Constabulary was one of only a few police forces that saw a reduction when the last rural crime figures were produced. Knutsford is a very low crime area and this operation will help to make villages safer still and reduce the likelihood of crime further. 8

9 Improving Quality Of Life An initiative tackling a burglary hotspot in Blyth, Northumberland, has been implemented to improve the neighbourhood and reduce the number of burglaries. Cowpen Quay has been identified as a particularly deprived area with two streets within the Blyth Terraces area having a disproportionately high level of burglaries. Sergeant Jill Hall from Blyth Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: All 273 properties within the two streets identified were visited and an environmental survey completed with residents. Our vision is that by improving the area, the number of burglaries will be reduced, together with the demand on police and partners, giving local people an improved quality of life. Heart Of The Community Bransgore Community First Responders and Heartstart Bransgore New Forest have marked 11 defibrillators with SelectaDNA, a forensic marking system which will enable the police to identify where they have come from in the event that they are stolen and recovered. The defibrillators are housed in distinctive yellow cabinets and are ready to be used in cases of cardiac arrest. Local residents are within just eight minutes reach of this vital piece of equipment. Mike Jukes, Group Co-ordinator Bransgore Community First Responders said: Although there has not been any problem with theft, it was considered prudent to take steps to permanently, yet discreetly, mark the defibrillators in such a way that they could be identified if stolen and later recovered by police. Beach Patrol Helps Avoid Marine Crime Wave Holidaymakers and residents in Tendring in Essex can rest assured this summer that its Beach Patrol will have their boats and lifesaving equipment safely protected by a new scheme to deter marine theft. Initiated by Tendring District Council (TDC), the scheme involves marking vital marine vessels along the Tendring coastline belonging to the Beach Patrol. These include jet-skis and rigid inflatable boats which are being identified with SelectaDNA Marine Kit. Nick Turner, TDC s Cabinet Member for Commercialisation, Seafronts and Parking, said: The use of SelectaDNA will help us ensure that our boats and equipment will be ready to deal with the 1,000 plus incidents we are likely to encounter by the end of the season. 9

10 Taking The Stand Against Crime SelectaDNA has has recently been featured at a wide range of high profile conferences and exhibitions. Criminal, Dangerous & Anti-Social Use of Motorcycles Conference This national conference, hosted by Merseyside Police, brought together representatives from each of the 43 police forces in England and Wales, alongside representatives from partner agencies and the motor industry. The conference aimed to share good practice and look at ways of working with motor industry specialists to tap into innovation that will help tackle the problem. Already being used by Merseyside Police (see page 2 for more details), our handheld DNA Spray for identifying nuisance scrambler bike offenders was on display at the conference, along with the SelectaDNA Motorcycle Marking Kit. Security & Policing 2017 The official UK Government annual global security event, Security & Policing invites exhibitors to showcase world leading products and technologies. SelectaDNA displayed a wide range of products at the event including those designed for covert operations such as transferable Gels, Grease and our new Trespass Beads. SelectaDNA also featured in the Live Immersive Experience where marked property was used to highlight how SelectaDNA can be used to provide evidence in the criminal justice system. National Vehicle Crime Conference Hosted by IAATI UK (International Association of Auto Theft Investigators), the National Vehicle Crime Conference was attended by senior practitioners, law enforcement, vehicle examiners and key industry players. SelectaDNA exhibited its new range of vehicle marking kits which can mark all types of cars and commercial vehicles - from vans to trailers, motorbikes to motor homes. Simon Ashton (pictured) also spoke on tackling the criminal use of motorcycles. Detecting and Preventing Metal Theft SelectaDNA MD James Brown presented at a metal theft seminar attended by leading police and industry experts. He highlighted the use of forensic marking which has been deployed successfully in numerous police and industry schemes to deter metal theft including helping to reduce cable theft on Network Rail routes by 93% over a five year period. 10

11 Social Media vs Social Nuisance Social media is being used as an increasingly powerful tool to highlight crime-related issues, such as fly-tipping, across the UK. Waste crime costs the UK the equivalent of building 34 new secondary schools or 4,137 NHS hospital beds. Most of this impact comes from fly- tipping, which is believed to take 209 million out of the economy every year. Community groups are reporting and sharing details of offences in their area to their followers and members. Many of these groups are complaining about the blight of flytipping, which can range from dumped items such as used tyres to old mattresses and builder s rubble. SelectaDNA Trace can provide a unique way to covertly mark waste, allowing it to be immediately identified and forensically linked back to the site it came from and therefore, to the offender. Biker and Bike have recently created a video together with Selectamark to show how easy it is to security mark any Powered Two Wheeler (PTW) showing the benefits and crime deterrent factor that can be achieved. Biker and Bike reach out to over 15,000 bikers around the UK sharing knowledge and facts, not only about bike theft but motorcycling in general. So impressed were they with SelectaDNA that they even created a social media competition to win Motorcycle Marking Kits. Social Champions Police are also using social media to highlight their innovative SelectaDNA crime reduction schemes to the public and local communities. Remember to tag to let us know what you are doing in your area. 11

12 Catching Criminals On The Move PRODUCT FOCUS Without sophisticated security solutions like the SelectaDNA Portable Intruder Spray, thieves are able to gain access to containers and trucks to steal contents. The SelectaDNA Portable DNA Intruder Spray System is quick to deploy, easy to arm and disarm and links criminals to their crime through state-of-the-art synthetic DNA technology. How does it work? When activated, the SelectaDNA Spray covers offenders with an invisible synthetic DNA solution. Once the portable system is armed, anyone passing underneath the spray head will be detected by an infrared sensor, triggering the mechanism and releasing a burst of SelectaDNA Spray onto the fleeing offender. The solution contains a unique DNA code (which only exists in one given system) and a UV tracer. It clings to skin and clothing fibres and helps police detect the criminal and connect them irrefutably to a particular crime. Displaying our warning signs and stickers on premises will deter potential criminals from targeting the truck or container in the first place. The portable battery unit allows deployment of a SelectaDNA spray system in places where a mains power supply is unavailable. The units can be mounted using screws/ fixings or magnets (depending on surface material). The magnetic option would allow the unit to be used in steel transport containers and easilyremoved when no longer required. Automatically armed via the closing and opening of the protected doors, the unit is disarmed via a single button radio remote keyfob. Police approved proven DNA technology to convict offenders. For more information visit sales@selectamark.co.uk or contact +44 (0) Permanent Visible Marking Selectamark Security Systems plc, 1 Locks Court, 429 Crofton Road, Locksbottom, Kent, BR6 8NL. 12 For further press information and images contact: Angela Singleton, Press Officer for Selectamark. Telephone: +44 (0) angela.singleton@selectamark.co.uk DA0354/1