London Bus Drivers Get DNA Spit Kits

by Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei
Posted May 31, 2007 in DNA and the Law

Last month, Scottish firefighters were issued DNA collection kits to catch miscreants who spit on them. Saliva samples are sent to the police for processing and matched against the national DNA database. Even if there is no match, the DNA will still be stored in case the spitter strikes again.

Now London bus drivers will also be carrying DNA spit kits. Subway stations (aka the London Underground and the Tube) already have them and Transport for London claims that 7 out of 10 samples submitted match a DNA profile in the national database. It’s part of a plan to curb “anti-social behaviour” although I’m not sure if an offender could be caught after the fact since I’m assuming spitting is usually a hit-and-run incident.

Just on my ride home this afternoon, I witnessed a couple of belligerent passengers. If they had spit, I would have loved to see the bus driver whip out a DNA collection kit and put the fear of genetics into them.

Tags: london, bus, dna kit, spit, saliva, genetics, genes, crime, dna

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3 Comments »

Comment by Blaine

2007-05-31 23:09:09

I love that! “Put the fear of genetics into them”!!

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Comment by Hsien

2007-06-01 10:47:34

/me swings her buccal swabs threateningly

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Pingback by DNA and Spit Law Enforcement Campaigns

2007-09-09 14:08:52

[...] Enforcement Campaigns by Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei Posted September 9, 2007 in DNA and the Law In May, London bus drivers were issued DNA spit kits to catch people who spit at them. Here’s a poster of another DNA spit campaign from November [...]

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