Future of Queensland crime fighting is Zebedee Scanner

"This technology can get to areas where conventional aircraft can't, because it is either too dangerous or too costly," he said.Police departments the world over are experimenting with new technologies and devices.In the US, several jurisdictions are considering whether to equip their officers with Google Glass.In Sydney, high incidences of alcohol-fuelled violence have prompted police to issue a tender for an ID scanning system to be installed in pubs and clubs in the neighbourhood of Kings Cross. Details such as name, date of birth and address captured from patrons' identity documents will be stored in the system so that police and venues can identify underage patrons and those subject to temporary or long-term banning orders.

Launching "the future of crime fighting" in Queensland – a device known as the Zebedee scanner LAUNCH X-431 Heavy-Duty– Police Minister Jack Dempsey and Science Ian Walker declined to hold the odd-looking object.It was left to CSIRO scientist Dr Jonathan Roberts to display the Zebedee, so named because of its likeness to the spring-legged character in children's TV show The Magic Roundabout."We decided we don't want to hold it," chuckled a blushing Mr Walker, as the Zebedee bobbed cheekily in Dr Roberts' hand.Costing around $37,000 plus GST, the laser scanner allows police to map a crime scene in three-dimensional form in about 20-minutes.Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said as well as saving time, the scanner would reduce interference in a scene and allow access to previously hard-to-reach areas such as steep declines and bush land.

"The Daniel Mo'be case is probably a classic example of where this type of technology would've been very helpful at the time," said Mr Stewart."What would normally take a day can now be done in the time it takes for an officer to simply walk around the perimeter and in and out of the various areas."The QPS currently only had one Zebedee,MOTO-BMW Motorcycle-specific Diagnostic Scanner but Mr Stewart said he hoped to purchase at least four more so they could be distributed among the five police regions."We look forward to continuing our working relationship with CSIRO to explore new technology that will benefit our officers in their duties," he said.An aerial version of the Zebedee was now being developed, Dr Roberts said.The Zebedee Scanner promises to improve the efficiency of police crime scene examination and provide detailed records for court cases.