Fingerprint scanner improves efficiency

The Home Office has hailed the use of roadside scanners that can electronically take fingerprints as a great success.

The latest figures indicate that the use of the machines, that have been on trial since last year, have saved officers on average 90 minutes. Identifying a suspect in a custody suite can by comparison take up to three hours.

Home Secretary John Reid said: “Results indicate that ‘Lantern’ is showing time savings beyond expectations and hence allowing officers to spend more time on the streets and providing a visible deterrent.”