Knocking moped thieves off their bikes, even during high-speed chases, is the newest "hardline" strategy to reduce moped crime in London.
A "tactical contact" approach will now be used by Scotland Yard officers, according to Commander Amanda Pearson, who said it was necessary to stop dangerous chases and arrest suspects.
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In a briefing on Friday (UK time), police chiefs said there was no maximum speed for police cars to hit mopeds, and moped thieves driving dangerously or removing their helmet would not force officers to stop their pursuit.
"A lot of them get up and run away, looking aghast at how dare we," said Ms Pearson. "Offenders on mopeds and motorcycles who attempt to evade the police are making a choice that puts themselves and others at risk".
She said police would target those involved in moped crime at every opportunity, including using DNA forensic tagging to tag suspects and their vehicles which can be spotted by UV lights up to one month after a crime.
So far, 28 suspects have been arrested due as a result of the spray. Moped crime in London has also reduced by 36 percent, reports ITV News.
There were 7036 fewer offences between January and October 2018 than in the same period in 2017.
Newshub.
