A fingerprint scanning initiative has helped cut alcohol related crime in Yeovil by almost a quarter, according to the local council.

Under the “biometric” system, every drinker must supply a thumbprint, name, address and date of birth before being allowed to enter any of the seven licensed premises in the town centre using the technology.

A drinker barred from one pub is then automatically barred from all pubs using the system.

South Somerset District Council said it has seen a 23.5% drop in alcohol-related violent crime inside licensed premises in Yeovil since the system was introduced, compared with figures from the same period last year, reports silicon.com.

A spokesman from the South Somerset District Council told the news service the thumbprint technology is considered to be a contributing factor to this decline in alcohol-related crime.

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By Daniel Thomas

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