Humberside Police has introduced biometric USB sticks to allow information to be securely moved outside the force network.

The sticks from MicroRiver can store up to 10 fingerprint impressions and work with a password to create a two-factor authentication system.

Roy MacDona, IT development manager at Humberside, says previously information could not leave the force network.

‘As recently as two months ago we refused to issue USB keys because we felt we would lose control of information,’ he said. ‘Now if we need to take information out of the force for any reason, if the device is stolen or lost, the information is secure.’

The USB sticks are comparable in price to a quality non-biometric USB stick, and contain a biometric fingerprint reader on the actual device.

The devices are being issued only to officers with a specific need to take information outside the force, such as those giving lectures, providing statistics for relevant bodies, or needing to transfer scene-of-crime pictures.

Humberside is the first constabulary to announce that it is using the technology.