00:00Leeds City Council have begun testing a forensic marking system designed to deter the theft
00:05of Yorkstone paving slabs from streets across the city.
00:09The durable Yorkshire sandstone is widely used in older parts of Leeds and is considered
00:14an important part of the area's historic character.
00:17However, the material has become a frequent target for thieves with removals causing damage
00:22to heritage streetscapes.
00:23The system being trialled uses a location-specific forensic DNA solution, combined with microscopic
00:30identification markers, allowing stolen stone to be traced using ultraviolet light or laboratory
00:35analysis.
00:38Officials say the markings are applied quickly using an aerosol and are designed to last indefinitely.
00:43The council says similar approaches in other areas have led to reductions in theft and the
00:47successful recovery of stolen materials.
00:51Let's take a look at the spray in action.
00:54So I'm Councillor Jonathan Pryor, we're out today trialling this selector DNA on our Yorkshire
00:59stone.
01:00We know that Yorkshire stone theft is a huge issue right across Leeds.
01:04Now what this does, this marks the stone permanently with an invisible spray which includes micro
01:09dots.
01:10When this has been used in other areas it's reduced stone thefts already by 87.5%.
01:15There have even been cases down in Kent where stone's been stolen and it's been returned
01:19after it's been found with this micro dot on so we know where it's come from.
01:23So today we're trialling this out, we're hoping to expand it to more areas across Leeds
01:27areas across Leeds to reduce that Yorkshire stone theft.
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