Police in Pembrokeshire are using DNA spray to tackle dangerous e-bike riders, amid rising complaints.

Dyfed-Powys Police have begun a series of operations which sees them tagging e-bikes with ‘SelectaDNA’ – a spray that contains a quantity of unique forensic code.

The smart water substance is traditionally designed to mark property at risk of being stolen but is now being used by police to identify people and vehicles involved in illegal behaviour.

The operations have come as a result of an increased number of complaints about e-bike use, specifically in the South Pembrokeshire area.

Community concerns relating to masked e-bike riders in the Pembroke Dock area were raised over the summer of 2025, with many residents complaining of verbal threats and antisocial behaviour by the culprits.

Reports of such masked e-bike riders plaguing the area frequently, led to police officers conducting an illegal e-bike operation in September, which involved several overt and covert tactics as well as the use of specialist departments.

Sixty calls were received by the force over six months, with 92 per cent of these calls reporting people – often wearing face coverings in a bid to conceal their identities – riding in an antisocial or dangerous way and across Dyfed-Powys 19 e-bikes have been seized along with 28 e-scooters.

Neighbourhood policing and prevention teams, response teams, the force intelligence bureau, roads policing unit and drone operators are all involved in the operations, which are taking place in the areas with the most community concern.

Inspector Celt Thomas explained: “Ahead of the operation, officers were trained in the use of SelectaDNA, which is a spray containing a quantity of unique DNA.

“This is used to tag people, e-bikes, scooters or motorbikes, and can pinpoint offenders to a specific location, date and time.

“If offenders are later identified or brought into custody following an incident, their bikes, clothing or they as a person, can be forensically examined and evidentially linked to an incident.”

During the first operation in Pembroke Dock, an illegal e-bike riders was stopped and arrested on suspicion of failing to stop, dangerous driving, possession of controlled drugs, drug driving and having no insurance.

Their e-bike, which was worth between £4,000 and £6,000 following a number of upgrades and modifications was seized for destruction.

PC Stuart Gray added: “E-scooters and bikes pose serious safety risks for children including accidents and injuries. We urge parents to think twice about buying e-scooters as presents this Christmas - please prioritise their wellbeing and consider a safer more appropriate gift.”

Inspector Thomas continued: “These riders are causing a huge amount of concern in the area due to their dangerous behaviour and intimidating appearance, and we are committed to resolving the issue.

“We will continue to target these groups of people over the coming months, and we are confident these operations will have positive results.

“We urge members of the community who have any information regarding the identity of anyone known to be riding illegally or antisocially to contact us.”