December 19

December 19, 2006: New Powers For Foreign Nationals' Biometrics

Powers to compel foreign nationals in the UK to register their biometrics will be considered by the Home Office next year. The power would be introduced on a rolling basis and would build on biometric IDs for foreign nationals, which will be introduced from 2008, targeting those applicants where cards will bring the greatest benefits, such as migrant workers seeking to extend their stay in the UK.

This news comes as Home Office Minister Liam Byrne published a Strategic Action Plan for the National Identity Scheme and the Borders, Immigration and Identity Action Plan, which follow the wider Home Office review earlier this year and signal the countdown to the introduction of ID cards to UK citizens in 2009. The plans underline how the use of identity checks and biometrics, including fingerprints, iris scans and facial recognition, will help secure UK borders. The plans show that:

between January and May 2006 there were more than 7,000 positive hits by enforcement officers using mobile fingerprint equipment;
there were 6,000 alerts, resulting in 620 arrests following people identified on warning lists attempting to travel on certain high risk routes into the UK;
more than 1,500 people, who have previously claimed asylum or been fingerprinted for other immigration purposes, have been identified trying to return to the UK and have been caught out by new biometric visa processes;
more than 51,000 people have enrolled in the Government’s secure immigration scheme Iris, exceeding the Government’s 40,000 target set out in the IND Review;
nearly 4 million facial biometric British passports have been issued.

Liam Byrne commented:

“Compulsory biometric identity for foreign nationals will help us secure our borders, shut down access to the illegal jobs, which we know attracts illegal immigrants, and help fight foreign criminals. The technology is already making a difference, stopping illegal immigrants returning to Britain once they’ve been deported, helping trusted travellers pass securely through our borders and cutting down abuse of the asylum system.”

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