The government plans to roll out an iris recognition system
to five UK airports to verify the identities of selected overseas
travellers by 2005.
The Home Office has signed a deal with Sagem SA to provide a
biometric system, following a trial at Heathrow. The Home Office
said it would improve security and speed up access to the UK for
those using the system at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester
and Birmingham.
Immigration minister Des Brown said the system was one of several
new security technologies introduced by the Home Office. "We are
developing biometric technology to further protect our borders,
rolling out its use in visas, passports and eventually ID cards,"
he said.
The Immigration Service will invite selected foreign nationals to
use the system, with preference given to those who live permanently
in the UK, regular travellers and work permit holders. It is hoped
that one million people will be registered on the system within
five years.