DNA-based security marking product company Applied DNA Sciences, Inc announced that its botanical, smartDNA anti-theft system, deployed by Stockholm county police in 2011, is now officially approved by the Swedish National Police Board to be used by law enforcement in Sweden beginning June 2012.
Anders Buren, Detective Superintendent, Stockholm County Police said: “We are very pleased with smartDNA as it has helped us to arrest the criminals for serious crimes committed. This has been proven in our evaluation of the system for the past year, and we expect, with support from SKL, our national forensic laboratory, to prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law.”
Detective Superintendent Buren has over 25 years experience as detective of investigations, surveillance and forensics in Stockholm. He was the project leader for the Swedish “Tolerens” Security Taskforce charged with the goal to help fight against serious armed robberies in Stockholm County, and now the project leader for the smartDNA anti-theft system. He has been training Stockholm county police and other Swedish police forces on the various uses of the smartDNA system.
From June 2012, the entire Swedish police force will be working with smartDNA, as a covert method of linking criminals to crimes. The adoption of this system by the Swedish police has helped them to link criminals to serious crimes, and this has resulted in a number of arrests (cases are pending).
smartDNA is a patented security system based on botanical DNA that can be used for the protection of valuables, in highly covert sting operations, as well as incorporated within existing security, anti-theft systems typically found in stores, warehouses, banks, pharmacies, and ATMs. For police sting operations, smartDNA products include a range of covert, permanent and transferable sprays and liquids that can be used to mark virtually any item from weapons, narcotics, and automotive parts to even the copper applied onto church roofs.
For banking and retail markets such as jewellry stores and pharmacies, smartDNA spray systems are available and are mounted strategically over a jewelry case or near the entrance door of the store. In the event of a robbery or other crime, the water-based smartDNA spray is propelled toward the offender. In both applications, police and crime scene investigators (CSI) can then use a special detection device to visually see that the spray from the scene of the crime is present and sample the spray remnant for DNA verification.
Since the launch of smartDNA, in Sweden, over 40 locations have installed smartDNA spray systems. In the United States, smartDNA products and spray systems are available, and are installed in a number of bank and pharmacy locations on Long Island, New York. The number of stores within the initial jewelry chain is expected to sharply rise. Additional jewelry chains and associations have inquired about smartDNA, as well as banks, pharmacies and ATM owners.
“The only way to stop criminals is to outsmart them from all fronts, and that includes working with insurers to help protect businesses and home owners,” said Dr James Hayward, APDN’s CEO.
The Swedish National Police Board (RPS) is the central administrative and supervisory authority of the police service. RPS is responsible for the development of new working methods, and technological and administrative support, and it is responsible – through the National Police Academy – for the training of police officers. It is also the principal agency for the Swedish National Laboratory of Forensic Science (SKL).
