The "intelligent" weapon records who is using it

The "intelligent" weapon system, being tested by the Durham force, has been attracting interest from other UK chief constables and the military.

The firearm "datalogger", brainchild of Jon Sutcliff, uses sensors to detect where it is and who has signed it out of the armoury.

Commanders could even be sent images of where the barrel is pointing, which could be used in a subsequent inquiry if the gun was fired.

Mr Sutcliff, who studied electronics at Durham University before serving with the Royal Navy, initially received a lukewarm response from the military who told him the concept was more useful to police forces.

Durham Police firearms officer Pc Chris Barber said: "He turned to us and we became the test-bed."

Weapons specialists with the force lent their expertise and the technology was honed at Durham's firing range.

The invention is now being developed by the firm Evidata and will be unveiled at a technology conference in Taiwan later this month.

'Transmit images'

Pc Barber said: "The logger is an intelligent device aware of its environment and location.

"An array of sensors can detect when it is taken out of the armoury or armed response vehicle gun box and who is handling it at the scene of an incident.

"It can detect the angle it is fired from and whether blank or live ammunition is involved and could even transmit images down the gun barrel back to an incident commander.

"All the information it captures is stored securely and can only be assessed post-incident by investigators."

The device has been designed to fit Heckler and Koch weapons used by police, but could be adapted for other weaponry.

Pc Barber added: "In many shooting incidents the only evidence in support of a decision to use the weapon comes from the authorised firearms officers and, if they survive, the suspect.

"The data captured by the system will provide openness and transparency to any subsequent investigation."