At just £4.50 the thumb print pad offers a cheap and effective way of deterring the cheats. In some areas where it has already in use, cheque and credit card fraud has fallen by up to 92 per cent. The PSNI’s local Crime Prevention Officer, Don Stockdale, is currently carrying out a survey of businesses here to see how much interest there is in the scheme.

    In a letter to traders he says: “While I accept that cheque and credit card related crime is not rife in this area, problems do arise on occasions causing financial loss and frustration to you.”

    He points out that police spend time and resources investigating such crimes but “frequently with less than satisfactory results” because identifying the person who actually presented the card or cheque is “next to impossible.”

    Constable Stockdale argues: “The Thumbprint Signature Programme not only provides a customer service, by providing them with a sense of added security, but is also a significant psychological deterrent and, if desired, can also result in successful prosecution.”

    The scheme involves asking the customer to place their right thumb on a pad of clear gel and then on the back of the cheque or credit card docket. In a case of fraud the resultant “print” can be used to help identify the criminal.

    The gel pads cost around £4.50 and should last around 18 months, providing between 400 and 600 prints.

    Constable Stockdale says: “It discourages a dishonest person from completing the transaction as they do not wish to leave their identity(thumb print) when using false or stolen identification.”

    He is offering to train staff in the use of the equipment.

    “It is my opinion that the business community working along with the police could eradicate the problem to our mutual benefit,” says Constable Stockdale.

    He has the support of Jenny McCrea, president of Enniskillen Chamber of Commerce, who says that many local retailers are interested in the scheme.

    While accepting that this type of fraud is not a major problem in Fermanagh she points out that it is on the increase, particularly in relation to stolen credit cards.

    She acknowledges that some customers might see it as an invasion of their privacy.

    “I think it’s a sensitive issue and has to be dealt with sensitively by staff,” she says.

    She feels that anonymous multiples will find it easier to introduce than family businesses where more delicacy will be required when asking customers for their thumb print. However, she believes that people with nothing to hide should have no problems complying with the scheme.