POLICE could use fingerprints to detect if suspects have handled explosives or cocaine in a process being developed by a Sedgefield nanotechnology company, Roar Particles.

It has just raised £1.3m in a private fund-raising and appointed the stockbroker WH Ireland to advise on its future growth. A float on AIM is possible this year. It is close to clinching a deal with Armor Holdings, the US defence group being bought by BAE Systems, for the development of its technology for homeland security applications.

Roar sprang out of technology developed at the University of Sunderland, said chief executive Joe Arend. Professor Fred Rowell, formerly of the university, is its chief scientific officer. It would use nanotechnology coupled with advanced mass spectrometry to change the analysis of fingerprints.

“The basic technique of dusting fingerprints to identify them has been around for 100 years. Our techniques use nanoparticles to lift trace chemicals from the prints to mine a lot more information about the person who left them. We can tell, for example, if they are using cocaine or prescription drugs, or if they have handled explosives,” he said. If prints also contain minute particles of skin, a full DNA profile of the suspect could be prepared, Arend said.

The technology is at present on trial with police forces in Singapore and Australia. “There are also obvious applications for homeland security, which is where our deal in the United States comes in,” he added.

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