A new aid in the fight against crime that has been described as the most advanced in the world has been developed in Scotland.

The East Kilbride developers say their computer intelligence programme can allow police to "predict, respond and solve crime in real time".

Its inventors, who have similar systems working all over the globe, say it frees vital police time and allows more officers to stay on the beat and away from paperwork.

Memex's CIMS (Crime and Intelligence Management System) allows forces to see patterns so that they can target crime, and prevent it, by instantly accessing databases and using detailed and reliable cross referencing of information.

The Scottish Police Services Authority is to consider using the system.

Adam Roberts, of Memex, said: "What Memex CIMS does is join the crime and intelligence systems together.

"This gets more officers out on the streets, giving them all of the information they need to protect themselves and the public, making people feel safer when they contact the police, and allowing forces to direct their resources towards the threats and protecting the forces information.

"CIMS allows forces to see the patterns so that they can target crime, and prevent it.

"When we talk about real time, we mean just that - Memex feeds the information to staff and officers so that they always have the most up-to-date information."

The Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and the law enforcement agencies in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ohio and New Hampshire are among Memex's clients.

Robert Kirkwood, chief information officer of the Scottish Police Services Authority, said: "The SPSA recently completed the transition of police intelligence data into a national support service. Memex is well known and we will be thoroughly investigating all options and suppliers."