Police will check prints from the scene of a crime

The equipment can send fingerprints via a lap top from the scene of the crime to a bureau, where they are checked against those on file.

In one case a man was arrested four hours after a burglary in Sleaford, because of the new speedy service.

Officers in Grantham are piloting the equipment for about six weeks and it is hoped it will go county-wide in June.

Five arrests

Police have been equipped with lap tops, scanners and mobile phones in order to use the new system.

Mick Carling, scientific support manager said: "Being able to send these images within a minute or two is a huge step forward.

"We are certainly the only police force in the country able to do this.

"There's a tremendous amount of interest in it and we have quite a few forces who are interested in coming to look at the service."

Before the new system came online, checking prints and matching them would take two or three days.

In total, five people have so far been arrested with the help of the remote checking system.

It has been developed in conjunction with the Home Office and the University of Sheffield.