'DNA spray' brought in to help police in South Tyneside catch nuisance riders is yet to be used.
Council chiefs shelled out £2,000 towards the costs of arming officers with the tool in an attempt to crack down on the motorcycle menace.
But officers from Northumbria Police have admitted they have not had a suitable chance to use it yet.
"We haven't managed to get close enough to spray anyone mobile yet," said Sergeant Claire Fada.
"And once a person has been sprayed, there's then only a certain amount of time where it stays on the person, so once you've sprayed, you've then got to find them."
Sgt Fada was speaking at Monday's meeting of the Hebburn Community Area Forum, where she said she was unaware of suggestions a drone could also be brought in to tackle the problem of anti-social motorbike riders.
She also urged the public to continue to provide information on nuisance riders when they spotted them through the 101 police line or Crimestoppers.'
The SelectaDNA spray was rolled out in September in South Tyneside and Sunderland, and allows police to 'tag' suspects with a liquid which becomes visible under UV light.
This allows police officers to link individuals to vehicles, even if they are later dumped, with an aim of tackling anti-social behaviour and nuisance motorbike riders.
