The Home Secretary's drive to strengthen Britain's border controls took another step forward today with the opening of IRIS at Gatwick South.
IRIS (Iris Recognition Immigration System), which lets registered passengers enter the UK quickly and securely, is a new step in exploiting biometric technology to strength Britain's border controls.
Thirty one million passengers pass through Gatwick each year, which represents 14 per cent of those passing through the UK's airports each year. Many of these passengers will be able to benefit from the introduction of this new technology.
IRIS enables registered passengers to enter the UK without queuing to see an immigration officer at passport control. Instead, individuals enrolled on the scheme are able to walk up to an automated barrier, look into a camera and if the system recognises them, enter the UK - leaving immigration officers free to concentrate on strengthening Britain's border controls.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said:
"We are significantly toughening Britain's borders. Iris recognition barriers combine speed and maximum security to let positively vetted passengers travel faster."
"Soon we will also see uniformed officers with new powers at airports across the UK."
This biometric technology works by photographing and storing a passenger's iris patterns in a database - then linking them securely to their passport details and immigration status in the UK. Only those individuals who meet the enrolment criteria and have had their details authenticated by an immigration officer are able to use the technology. This ensures the immigration system remains safe and secure at all times. As no two iris patterns are alike, the system will quickly and securely recognise each registered individual when they look into the camera.
The installation of IRIS at Gatwick South completes the roll out of this new technology to nine key airports. It builds on the Home Secretary's commitments in his Review of Immigration to enhance technology at the border to count people in and out of the UK, use tougher checks abroad, introduce biometric ID for non-EEA foreign nationals and double the enforcement budget by £100m.
Liam Byrne visited IRIS at Gatwick Airport today. He took the opportunity to enrol in the system and use the automated arrival gate.
Andy Flower, Managing Director BAA Gatwick said:
"The use of this new system helps protect our borders as well as providing our passengers with much faster clearance through immigration controls. The success of the IRIS project in North Terminal has led to its extension to South Terminal. We look forward to encouraging more passengers to use this state of the art technology to help ease their journey through the airport."
Notes to Editors:
1. A one-off enrolment for IRIS takes about 5 minutes and is free. Registration is conducted by immigration staff in the departures area of participating airports.
2. There are basically 3 categories of passenger who are eligible for IRIS enrolment and this depends on their immigration entitlement. Full details are available on the IRIS website:
- Permanent entitlement, eg UK and other EEA citizens; UK residents with foreign passports
- Temporary entitlement, eg work permit holders and their dependants; long term students
- Frequent visitors who can demonstrate a proven compliance with previous UK immigration conditions, and who hold an extant UK visa if required
3. IRIS was launched at Heathrow Airport in January 2006. It is in operation at 9 airport terminals: Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4, Manchester Terminals 1 and 2, Birmingham Terminal 1, Gatwick North and Gatwick South.
4. Nearly 82,000 people have now registered with IRIS resulting in more than 360,000 border crossings.
5. IRIS is part of the e-Borders programme, within the Borders & Immigration Agency. e-Borders is a joint initiative co-ordinated by the Home Office in partnership with key border control, law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
The e-Borders system will:
- provide a co-ordinated and integrated approach to meeting the requirements of the border control, law enforcement, intelligence and visa issuing agencies in relation to the entry and exit of people to and from the UK;
- enhance the security of the UK through the provision of improved intelligence and information on traveller movements;
- provide the systems to support the operation of more efficient processes for the management of resources utilised on UK border control activity; and
- provide technology systems to support the more efficient management of passengers through UK border control.
6. More information is available at the IRIS website http://www.iris.gov.uk
