THAMES Valley Police are hoping shop owners will give the thumbs up to a new initiative to reduce cheque and credit card fraud.

The Thumbprint Signature Program, which is due to be launched in a few weeks, asks shoppers to have a thumbprint done when they purchase goods from participating shops.

PC Steve Kirby said: "Some shoppers will be concerned because of the big brother side of it. If the transaction is legitimate then nothing happens with the thumb print. There is no database, it's just a way of cutting out fraud."

The police say this new scheme will provide retailers and customers with a sense of added security and is a deterrent to offenders.

The inkless process creates a permanent record of the presenter but using a gel that does not leave an ink mark on the users thumb.

PC Kirby added: "The majority of stolen cheques or credit cards are from burglaries or cars being broken into. By doing this sort of thing we can identify an offender and possibly get back other stolen property as well."

The program started in the US in 1988 and it was successfully introduced and developed by Kent Police last year, working with the importers of the kits, Thumbs Up Security Ltd.

Shoppers can refuse to give their thumb print. It is then up to the shop owner's discretion to either refuse the transaction, ask for a second piece of identification or continue with the sale.

Six town centre shops have already joined the scheme, but it is hoped that many more will become involved.

Jette Peddie, scheme co-ordinator for Wycombe Watch, said: "I think we will get a good response for this. High Wycombe has a very bad name and we need to tidy that up. We need shops to take it on board."

Contact PC Steve Kirby at High Wycombe Police Station for more details.