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Manchester Airport trials biometric equipment

20/08/2008

Home secretary Jacqui Smith was at Manchester Airport yesterday to announce the government's latest step to secure Britain's borders.

The airport is piloting new facial recognition technology that scans the faces of UK and European passengers and matches them up with their biometric passports.

Ms Smith said equipment will help identify criminals and terrorists trying to enter the country. If identified, they will be flagged up on a no-fly list.

She also remarked that the new security gates will improve the speed at which passengers pass through the airport because the technology is automatic.

"The UK has one of the toughest borders in the world and we are determined to ensure it stays that way," she said on her visit to Manchester.

Two men were arrested at Manchester Airport under terrorism laws last Thursday afternoon.

Bill Crawshaw, terminal duty manager at the hub, said there had been no disruption to the airport's operations.