Police would be armed with mobile fingerprint scanners and drug detectors in a Baird government cash splash on law and order, fulfilling its pledge to get tough on crime.

As promised before the election, the "Policing for Tomorrow" fund allocates $100 million over four years to give police the latest technology. Police would bid for equipment such as tablet computers so frontline officers can access police data in the field, or hand-held machines that scan for narcotics. The fingerprint scanner would enable instant identification of offenders.

96,000 public servants may have been affected in the most recent data privacy scare.

Police minister and Deputy Premier Troy Grant, a former country cop, said the fund would "future-proof" the force and ensure police have access to the latest crime-fighting technology, "freeing them up to spend more time on the beat, protecting the community".