Shops in Southampton, Hampshire, can now use invisible DNA tagging technology to catch thieves and deter shoplifting following the rollout of new forensic equipment on 24 March 2026. This initiative is part of Operation Predict, a collaboration between GO! Southampton, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, and Southampton City Council.
The technology, provided by SelectaDNA, uses a special spray that marks offenders with an invisible solution containing a unique forensic code. This solution sticks to skin, hair, and clothing for several months and can only be seen under ultraviolet light, making it easier for police to link suspects to specific crimes.
Retailers can also use property-marking kits to protect their stock with unique identifiers and microdots. Police officers and security staff for the city centre business group finished their training with the new equipment on Thursday, 19 March 2026.
This move comes as shoplifting offences in Hampshire rose by 49 per cent in 2023, with 13,705 incidents recorded. Recent data from the British Retail Consortium shows that 28 per cent of people in Southampton have witnessed shoplifting, the third-highest rate in the country.
Major businesses like JD Sports have already started using the tagging system in their stores across the country. Similar schemes in other parts of England have previously helped to reduce local burglary rates by more than 80 per cent.
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