Police in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have announced plans for a database of international criminals that can be shared between countries.

The new International Information Consortium, dubbed Server in the Sky, will include finger and retina prints, criminal records and known addresses of suspects.

"Server in the Sky is an FBI initiative designed to foster the advanced search and exchange of biometric information on a global scale," the FBI told The Guardian.

"While it is currently in the concept and design stages, it will eventually provide a technical forum for member nations to submit biometric search requests to other nations.

"It will maintain a core holding of the world's 'worst of the worst' individuals. Any identifications of these people will be sent as a priority message to the requesting nation."

The UK government and the Metropolitan Police told The Guardian that they are aware of the programme, but declined further comment.

The five countries already co-operate in running Echelon, the global eavesdropping service that can listen into telephone, radio and email communication.

Echelon was designed during the Cold War but has maintained and expanded its operations since the break up of the Soviet Union.