RETAILERS at The Trafford Centre will be asking for customers' fingerprints as well as their signatures in a bid to crack down on credit card fraudsters this Christmas.

The initiative is part of the Christmas anti-crime campaign, Operation Red Robin, which was launched this week.

It is the first time a shopping centre in the north west has adopted such a scheme, which requires consumers to voluntarily provide their thumbprint on a credit card slip or cheque.

It uses a water based ink which provides an invisible fingerprint that does not create a mess.

Shoppers refusing to oblige may be asked for back up identification or even asked for a cash payment.

For consumers who discover they have been the victims of credit card fraud, it will enable Greater Manchester Police to check the slip for a thumb print and is also proof that the cardholder did not make the transaction.

A number of stores within the £900 million shopping and leisure destination have committed to the trial, which will run until the new year.

It is a scheme already successfully implemented in the United States for the past 13 years and by other towns in the south of England.

The scheme is being spearheaded by the Centre's Retail Crime Initiative, which is run in collaboration with GMP and retailers and will form an important part of the additional security measures throughout the operation.

Director of Operations for The Trafford Centre, Steve Bunce said: "Credit card fraud cost the UK £292.6 million last year, an increase of over 50 per cent, and it continues to be an area of major concern for our retailers.

"We are always looking at new and innovative ways to deter criminals, firstly from entering the Centre and ultimately committing a crime here, so we felt it was an ideal time to trial this scheme as part of our wider Christmas anti-crime strategy."

The thumbprint system has reduced cases of reported fraud by up to 75 per cent at other shopping centres.

Inspector John Fleming, head of the Operational Policing Unit at Stretford, said: "We fully support the Centre in instigating this initiative and our collaborative work will continue to be key in identifying and charging offenders who commit any crime here."