People passing through several of Britain’s major airports could soon be subjected to fingerprint identification, The Telegraph reports.
The UK Border Agency has said it is reviewing procedures at so-called ‘common-departure lounges’ that are used by both domestic and international travellers.
According to the executive agency, security analysts are concerned the layout of such lounges could potentially be exploited by subversive elements such as terrorists or criminals.
Fears centre on the possibility that an incoming international passenger could switch places with an accomplice on a domestic flight, thus bypassing stringent immigration controls.
But the agency’s proposed solution – fingerprinting all passengers at common lounges such as Heathrow Terminal 1 – has been labelled invasive by the Information Commissioner, Britain’s privacy watchdog.
“We have raised the data protection implications of the proposals with BAA and UK Borders Agency,” a spokesman for the commissioner’s office told The Telegraph. “We have requested more information about the requirements the agency may have for fingerprint checks.”
Critics insist the current system of photographing and checking passengers as they pass through security offers sufficient protection.
