The system logs hundreds of characteristics

Grampian Police is the first force to introduce the technology north of the border.

The ID-2000 system can identify a face from 15 million records within a minute.

Officers said it could save months of police time and puts the force at the cutting edge of technology.

The system works with all races and genders and can recognise someone who has had a change of hairstyle.

It identifies almost 700 facial characteristics, converting them into a unique electronic wave.

Victims

It comes as a psychologist is detailing research on face recognition as an aid to police in the fight against crime.

Professor Mike Burton, of Glasgow University, is to give a lecture entitled Know That Face as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Prof Burton has done extensive research into how victims of crime identify their aggressors to police.

He argues that improved CCTV technology does not increase the chances that victims will be able to provide a positive identification.

Prof Burton is also to give details of an experiment which uses cartoon favourites The Simpsons to show why we have such difficulty remembering people's names and faces.

The Edinburgh Science Festival runs until 22 April.