BOLTON criminals could soon be caught by computer, thanks to on-screen fingerprint "dabs".

The current ink, roller and block system -- which saw 4,400 criminals identified last year -- will soon be a thing of the past in Bolton as fingerprinting goes high-tech.

A specialist computer system has just been introduced at Stockport police station, using digital images to scan fingerprints.

Marks found at crime scenes are scanned in to compare with images stored on the national database.

Jill Thompson, GMP's fingerprint training officer, said: "The fingerprint system of identification is an accurate and reliable method of crime detection which has served the country well for 100 years and will continue to do so.

"Continued developments in the recovery and searching of fingerprints assists us in the provision of an efficient and effective service."