FIREFIGHTERS in Glasgow are the first in Scotland to be given "spit kits" to identify attackers from saliva DNA.

The DNA collection kits - containing sterile swabs, latex gloves and evidence collection bag - will be kept on fire engines and be issued to all firefighters working alone.

One crew at Pollok Fire Station has already been forced to use a kit, days after they were issued to 3000 Strathclyde Fire and Rescue workers.

Bill McDonagh, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue's director of operations said: "From now, anyone who spits at one of our firefighters should know we will have evidence against them, and chances are they will be identified and caught.

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"Spitting is a potentially dangerous act. Saliva can transmit dangerous diseases such as hepatitis B and bacterial meningitis."

The latest statistics show most spitting attacks come from juveniles or teenagers.

There were around 20 reports of Strathclyde firefighters being spat on from April 2006 until this month - up 25% from the previous year.

It contrasts with a fall in other assaults from 162 in 2005-06 to 156 in 2006-07.

The spit kits have already been issued to city SPT workers. They can collect a sample of the attacker's saliva which is passed on to police and checked against a national DNA database.

If no match is found, the culprit's DNA is stored and an automatic search carried out monthly for new matches.

The incident at Pollok happened in Kilmuir Crescent on Monday as a firefighter tackled a fire in a bin shelter.

Meanwhile, supermarket giant Tesco and retail union Usdaw have joined forces to combat abusive shoppers with a hard-hitting poster campaign.