Anti-crime DNA sprays in a reader's neighborhood

Cory Doctorow 9:18 am Fri Feb 11, 2011

Jantine sez, "January 10th I received this letter from my district officials saying they;ve installed DNA spray in the area I live in. I've posted the letter, pic of the sign and some translated excerpts on my blog for the time being."

Dear resident,
to reduce the number of hold ups, the shopping streeds in West will be equipped with DNA-sprays from january 2011 onwards. The DNA-spray is an extra means beside the camera surveillance which district West in our effort to improve the safety in the shopping area…

The procedure is simple: during a holdup a nebula of invisible liquid with a synthetic DNA code is spread in the space. the liquid attaches itself to the clothes and skin of the perpetrator and cannot simply be washed off. DNA-spray is practically invisible to the human eye, but lights up under UV-light. Suspects with traces of DNA-spray are easily traceble to the scene of the crime for the police.

DNA spray installed in my neigborhood (Amsterdam West)

(Thanks, Jantine!)

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