FORGET signatures and PIN numbers - the UK should start using finger prints and iris recognition to prove who we are really are, according to new research.

An overwhelming 86 per cent of people from our region said they would be happy to swap their chip and PIN keypad for a finger print reader if it meant their personal details were safer.

And more than 90 per cent thought using finger prints to prove who you are is much more secure than the traditional signature.

Finger print and eyeball recognition, also known as biometrics, is already part of everyday life in America - all visitors have to be finger printed before they can enter the country.

In Holland, iris scanning is used to fast-track frequent fliers through security checkpoints at Schiphol Airport.

The poll of 3,000 people, by York-based firm CPP, revealed just under two thirds of people from Yorkshire thought the UK should follow suit.

Stephen Mouncey, a spokesman for CPP Identity Protection, said: "People are clearly aware of the need to tackle issues such as fraud and terrorism in the UK, and in principle, are behind biometrics or something that will solve these modern problems."

Not everyone was so keen, though. Just over half of those interviewed thought biometrics would restrict modern life.

One fifth of people from Yorkshire said finger imaging treats people like presumed criminals, and 53 per cent were concerned about the hygiene when scanning eyeballs or fingerprints.

Mr Mouncey added: "There are, however, concerns around how biometrics will work in the real world and some fundamental questions that need answering around issues of privacy, data protection, hygiene and cost.

"It is important the Government takes the public's views into consideration and addresses the scepticism that currently exists and doesn't push ahead with biometric identification regardless. If it does it could be an expensive flop."


Survey results

Almost 90 per cent of the 3,000 people who took part in the survey would also still be concerned that their personal details could still be copied somehow, even with biometrics.

* An anxious 86 per cent would also worry that all their personal information could be stolen if someone managed to hack into a central database

* Two fifths thought biometrics was just a gimmick and will never actually happen* Two thirds of people wouldn't be willing to pay anything towards making biometric security checks a reality.


Fast-growing crime

The Press reported last year how identity theft was a fast-growing crime in York, and since then the city has been no stranger to financial fraud.

Detective Inspector Adam Harland, of North Yorkshire Police's financial investigation unit, said at the time that the major threat comes not from someone sneaking your personal details at the office, or rifling through your rubbish bin, but from sophisticated computer criminals.

Det Insp Harland said the introduction of chip and PIN technology had a huge impact on reducing credit card theft.