STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwire - Dec 21, 2012) - Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (OTCBB: APDN), (Twitter: @APDN), a provider of DNA-based anti-counterfeiting technology and product authentication solutions, announced today that the UK Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) will be using its proprietary DNANet™ property marking kits as part of a major initiative to reduce crime in targeted London neighborhoods. 

MPS will be deploying DNANet markers in thousands of homes where homeowners will be encouraged to mark and register their valuable belongings. In the case of theft, the presence of the unique DNANet marker enables police to identify stolen goods and trace them to a specific crime scene. The unequaled forensic merit of DNANet markers empower municipalities to apprehend and convict criminals. In the long term, crime deterrence rises from enhanced policing and prosecution power. Street and home signage announcing the use of DNANet markers will place potential offenders on alert, offering additional deterrence value.

Chief Inspector Robyn Williams, who is responsible for Neighbourhood Policing and Partnership in Lambeth, said: "The response from Lambeth residents to this Burglary crime prevention and reduction scheme has been extremely positive with an almost 100% take up rate of addresses visited to date. Police in Lambeth will continue to adopt and utilise innovative tactics including DNANet property marking that will support us in keeping our residents safe."

Dr. James A. Hayward, President and CEO of Applied DNA Sciences stated, "Our DNA products are already used across Europe in high security applications. We protect approximately twenty-six percent (26%) of all cash movements across the UK, which has been instrumental in the capture and sentencing of a significant number of criminals. Our DNA is also used across Sweden in jewelry stores and recently to protect copper assets located in Energy stations throughout Sweden. We are delighted to be working with the Metropolitan Police on this excellent crime reduction initiative to help protect households and communities for people worried about crime in their neighborhoods."

The value of DNA-based law enforcement tool offered by Applied DNA Sciences, is well known in the United Kingdom. Recently, Applied DNA Sciences was awarded the Excellence in Policing award and POP ("Problem Oriented Policing") award. These awards recognized APDN's SigNature® DNA technology which helped the Lancashire constabulary to positively identify and prosecute perpetrators in the UK. In December 2011, APDN was awarded the coveted Tilley award from both Houses of Parliament for the contribution of SigNature DNA in the resolution of the Blackburn robbery case that resulted in five convictions with a total of 55 years in sentencing. In a separate case, SigNature DNA helped in the dismantling of a major UK drug ring where eleven cartel members were sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison.

About Applied DNA Sciences

APDN is a provider of botanical-DNA based security and authentication solutions that can help protect products, brands and intellectual property of companies, governments and consumers from theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion. SigNature® DNA and smartDNA®, our principal anti-counterfeiting, and product authentication solutions that essentially cannot be copied, provide a forensic chain of evidence and can be used to prosecute perpetrators. 

The statements made by APDN may be forward-looking in nature. Forward-looking statements describe APDN's future plans, projections, strategies and expectations, and are based on assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of APDN. Actual results could differ materially from those projected due to our short operating history, limited financial resources, limited market acceptance, market competition and various other factors detailed from time to time in APDN's SEC reports and filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on December 20 2012 and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. APDN undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.