A trial is being undertaken at Gatwick Airport which will record the fingerprints of passengers arriving from Sierra Leone with biometric visas.
The BioDev trial is being undertaken to test the effectiveness of border security and anyone found attempting to enter the UK illegally will be refused entry.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne visited Gatwick’s North Terminal to see how digital photographs and fingerprints were cross-checked, with the trial expected to continue until April 2008.
Liam Byrne said: “New fingerprint visas are fast becoming our first line of defence against illegal immigration. By establishing people’s identities beyond any doubt before they enter the UK we can stamp out multiple applications and identity fraud, ensuring entry only to those who are welcome.”
Compulsory fingerprinting is now part of the UK visa application process in more than 100 countries and this has already seen around 8,000 sets of prints matched to individuals of concern.
