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19/08/2008
Passengers 'Face' Scanners At Manchester Airport
A new 'recognition' technology is being pioneered at Manchester Airport.
Facial recognition cameras are to be trialled at the airport to improve security and reduce passenger congestion.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith unveiled details of the scheme and said it will shorten waiting time at immigration points and "boost border security".
"The UK has one of the toughest borders in the world and we are determined to ensure it stays that way," she said.
Adult biometric passport holders from the UK and European Economic Area will be able to use the system.
The technology works by scanning passenger's faces and comparing it to the photograph digitally stored on their passports.
About 13 million people in the UK have been issued with a biometric passport, which contains a microchip holding biographical information and images.
A further 30 million people in the European Economic Area, have biometric passports.
Ministers believe that facial recognition technology will help identify criminals and terrorists trying to enter the UK illegally.
At Manchester Airport, passengers with biometric passports will be able to avoid long queues and pass through unmanned gates.
A scanner will check their passport to check that it has not been tampered with and a facial recognition scanner will read their faces.
Those who do not pass the checks will be redirected to immigration officers for further checks.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Tom Brake said that ministers mush "ensure that this technology is foolproof" and that if it goes wrong, "thousands of passengers could be left stranded at Manchester Airport".
Mr Brake added that "the last thing this country needs is another major transport hub grinding to a halt".
The technology will be introduced at Stansted in September and following a six-month trial, is set to be extended to all major UK airports.
All UK passports have been biometric for the past two years.
According to a recent study by market research firm ABI, investment in biometrics will drive global spending in the field to $7.3 billion by 2012.
John Verdi, from the Electronic Privacy Information Centre, based in Washington, says that one of the biggest concerns about biometrics is the risk of identity theft.
"If your biometrics are stolen, short of hacking of your finger there's no way for consumers or travellers to reacquire their identity," he said.
(DS)
Facial recognition cameras are to be trialled at the airport to improve security and reduce passenger congestion.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith unveiled details of the scheme and said it will shorten waiting time at immigration points and "boost border security".
"The UK has one of the toughest borders in the world and we are determined to ensure it stays that way," she said.
Adult biometric passport holders from the UK and European Economic Area will be able to use the system.
The technology works by scanning passenger's faces and comparing it to the photograph digitally stored on their passports.
About 13 million people in the UK have been issued with a biometric passport, which contains a microchip holding biographical information and images.
A further 30 million people in the European Economic Area, have biometric passports.
Ministers believe that facial recognition technology will help identify criminals and terrorists trying to enter the UK illegally.
At Manchester Airport, passengers with biometric passports will be able to avoid long queues and pass through unmanned gates.
A scanner will check their passport to check that it has not been tampered with and a facial recognition scanner will read their faces.
Those who do not pass the checks will be redirected to immigration officers for further checks.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Tom Brake said that ministers mush "ensure that this technology is foolproof" and that if it goes wrong, "thousands of passengers could be left stranded at Manchester Airport".
Mr Brake added that "the last thing this country needs is another major transport hub grinding to a halt".
The technology will be introduced at Stansted in September and following a six-month trial, is set to be extended to all major UK airports.
All UK passports have been biometric for the past two years.
According to a recent study by market research firm ABI, investment in biometrics will drive global spending in the field to $7.3 billion by 2012.
John Verdi, from the Electronic Privacy Information Centre, based in Washington, says that one of the biggest concerns about biometrics is the risk of identity theft.
"If your biometrics are stolen, short of hacking of your finger there's no way for consumers or travellers to reacquire their identity," he said.
(DS)
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