Police Introduce New Tool to Stop E-Scooters and E-Bikes
Police forces across the United Kingdom, including Thames Valley Police in Oxfordshire, are using new SmartTag technology to combat the criminal and anti-social use of e-bikes, e-scooters and motorcycles.
Developed by DeterTech UK, SmartTag is a traceable forensic liquid that officers can fire from a handheld canister at distances of up to 10 metres. The spray marks riders, their clothing and their vehicles with an invisible substance.
Unique Forensic Code Can Identify Suspects
SmartTag spray cannot be seen without ultraviolet light. Each canister contains a unique forensic code, allowing investigators to connect a marked suspect or vehicle to a specific incident.
The marker can remain on skin, clothing, bikes and other surfaces for weeks or even months. This means officers may still be able to identify a suspect long after the original incident took place.
Technology Reduces the Need for Dangerous Pursuits
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has introduced the technology in areas including Southampton. The force says SmartTag provides officers with a safer way to deal with motorcycles, e-bikes and e-scooters being used for crime or anti-social behaviour.
Instead of immediately pursuing riders through crowded streets or confronting them at close range, officers can spray them with the forensic marker and identify them later.
Similar trials have also been carried out by Dorset Police and other forces as concerns grow over powered two-wheelers being ridden illegally on pavements and in busy public areas.
Thames Valley Police Using SmartTag Across Three Counties
Thames Valley Police, which covers Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, is also deploying SmartTag as part of its response to the increasing criminal use of e-bikes and e-scooters.
According to a BBC report published in April, officers use the spray to mark suspects and their vehicles during incidents. Anyone stopped at a later date may be examined under ultraviolet light to determine whether the forensic code is present.
A briefing provided to the Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel said the marker remains detectable for extended periods, helping strengthen the evidence connecting an offender to a particular crime scene.
More Than 100 Illegal Vehicles Seized
Thames Valley Police has already confiscated more than 100 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters during recent enforcement operations.
The force has also reminded the public that privately owned e-scooters cannot legally be used on public roads. Riders may face fines, penalty points and the seizure of their vehicle if they are caught.
SmartTag technology gives UK police forces a safer and more effective method of identifying riders who use e-bikes, e-scooters or motorcycles for criminal activity.
By leaving a long-lasting forensic marker, the spray can help investigators connect suspects and vehicles to incidents without relying on dangerous high-speed pursuits.
