PLANS for police officers to use a controversial spray to tag what they consider to be disorderly football fans were called into question today.

Cheshire Constabulary announced on Wednesday that it will “become the first police force in the UK to equip officers with DNA Tagging Spray at all League two matches.”

The spray, the force claimed in a statement, “can be used by officers to deter and prevent criminal behaviour, such as football disorder.”

SelectaDNA, the company manufacturing and providing Cheshire Police with the spray, says the canisters contain “a synthetic DNA solution with a code that is unique to every canister.

“Criminals who are sprayed with SelectaDNA solution will be marked for weeks, or even months, making it easy for police to link them back to the crime scene.”

Cheshire Constabulary say the spray is only visible under UV light. It plans to roll out its use this Saturday at Crewe Alexandra home game against Accrington Stanley.

However, the Football Supporters Association (FSA) says it has serious concerns about the deployment of a “largely unproven technology” against match-going fans.

“Misuse or inconsiderate deployment of DNA spray by officers could see innocent bystanders caught up in criminal justice procedures in which they have no reason to be entangled,” FSA chief executive Kevin Miles told the Morning Star today.

“The arrest stats continue to show that football is an overwhelmingly safe activity — with just 5.5 arrests per 100,000 spectators last year. So we have to ask: is this necessary and is this proportionate?

“What is particularly disappointing to us — at a time when government has legislated to ensure fans have a voice in the game — is the total absence of consultation by the police.”