An infrared detection system, comprising: a laser source comprising an optical parametric oscillator having a pump laser and a nonlinear medium , the laser source providing output radiation for illuminating a target, wherein the output radiation of the laser source is tuned to at least one wavelength in the fingerprint region of the infrared spectrum, and both an idler beam and a signal beam of the optical parametric laser are provided by the laser source, wherein the laser source provides pulsed output radiation; tuning means to tune the laser source between a plurality of wavelengths, wherein the infrared detection system is a hyperspectral detection system; wherein the idler beam is tuned to provide output radiation at least partly within the fingerprint region and the signal beam is tuned to provide output radiation at least partly at shorter wavelengths than in the fingerprint region; wherein the idler beam and the signal beam of the optical parametric laser are provided as output radiation; a scanning system for scanning a target region, wherein the scanning system is synchronised with the pulsed output radiation, and wherein a pulse of radiation output by the laser source at a wavelength determines an image pixel value at that wavelength; a detector configured to detect radiation backscattered from the target, wherein the detector comprises an imaging system; an analyser adapted to match detected radiation signals against predetermined spectra to determine from at least the presence or absence of detected signal in said at least one wavelength whether a predetermined volatile compound is present; and wherein the imaging system is adapted to provide an image of the target including a determination from the presence or absence of detected signal in more than one wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths whether the predetermined volatile compound is present provided by the adapted analyser. a laser source comprising an optical parametric oscillator having a pump laser and a nonlinear medium , the laser source providing output radiation for illuminating a target, wherein the output radiation of the laser source is tuned to at least one wavelength in the fingerprint region of the infrared spectrum, and both an idler beam and a signal beam of the optical parametric laser are provided by the laser source, wherein the laser source provides pulsed output radiation; tuning means to tune the laser source between a plurality of wavelengths, wherein the infrared detection system is a hyperspectral detection system; wherein the idler beam is tuned to provide output radiation at least partly within the fingerprint region and the signal beam is tuned to provide output radiation at least partly at shorter wavelengths than in the fingerprint region; wherein the idler beam and the signal beam of the optical parametric laser are provided as output radiation; a scanning system for scanning a target region, wherein the scanning system is synchronised with the pulsed output radiation, and wherein a pulse of radiation output by the laser source at a wavelength determines an image pixel value at that wavelength; a detector configured to detect radiation backscattered from the target, wherein the detector comprises an imaging system; an analyser adapted to match detected radiation signals against predetermined spectra to determine from at least the presence or absence of detected signal in said at least one wavelength whether a predetermined volatile compound is present; and wherein the imaging system is adapted to provide an image of the target including a determination from the presence or absence of detected signal in more than one wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths whether the predetermined volatile compound is present provided by the adapted analyser. <EOS>