LANCASHIRE Police are leading the way in setting up a new database aimed at speeding up crime detection.

All officers on the force have been approached for inclusion on the DNA elimination database which will make sure that people who have legitimate access to crime scenes are eliminated from enquiries.

Following recent developments DNA profiling is now possible on the minute stains recovered from crime scenes. The latest super-sensitive technique needs only a few cells for analysis.

Because of the advances contamination of crime scenes had become an important issue and it is essential that, just as for fingerprints, the constabulary are able to eliminate people who have legitimate access.

The Government has recognised the importance of the database by giving forces across the country £3million to get it started.

Lancashire Police have the highest percentage of officers who have so far volunteered for inclusion on the database with 73.5 per cent agreeing to give DNA samples.

This means that 2,360 officers out of a total force strength of 3,215 have said yes to provide a mouth swab for the database records.

The percentage is ten percent higher than the next best force in the country which is Gloucestershire at 64 per cent.

Chairman of the Lancashire Police Authority Personnel Committee, Peter Wakeling, said: "We welcome this development particularly since it will speed up the way we deal with crime scenes and hopefully bring more people to justice.

"We are pleased that Lancashire officers have been quick to co-operate in this important area of crime detection."

A police spokesman said the scheme was always intended to be voluntary as a compulsory scheme might be considered a breach of the Human Rights Act.