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28/08/2003
'Biometric' ID to be rolled out for asylum applicants
The use of fingerprint, iris or facial recognition scans are to be widened for visa applications, under plans set out by Home Secretary David Blunkett.
The use of 'biometric' technology will make it easier to prevent people staying illegally in the UK or fraudulently claiming asylum. This scheme is already being piloted for those applying for a visa in Sri Lanka. All asylum seekers are now fingerprinted and checked against UK and EU databases.
The USA is already introducing a requirement for all visas for the US to contain a biometric by October 2004.
The Home Secretary said that he is determined that the government takes advantage of new technology.
"Taking a biometric when we are dealing with a visa application will provide a much more secure way of confirming someone's identity, even if they deliberately try to mislead the authorities by destroying their documents. It will also make it easier to discover if someone is in this country illegally by over-staying their visa period and to remove those who do not have a right to be in this country," he said.
"Biometrics are already helping tackle fraud in the asylum system and can help tighten our borders further, particularly through close working with other industrialised countries."
(gmcg)
The use of 'biometric' technology will make it easier to prevent people staying illegally in the UK or fraudulently claiming asylum. This scheme is already being piloted for those applying for a visa in Sri Lanka. All asylum seekers are now fingerprinted and checked against UK and EU databases.
The USA is already introducing a requirement for all visas for the US to contain a biometric by October 2004.
The Home Secretary said that he is determined that the government takes advantage of new technology.
"Taking a biometric when we are dealing with a visa application will provide a much more secure way of confirming someone's identity, even if they deliberately try to mislead the authorities by destroying their documents. It will also make it easier to discover if someone is in this country illegally by over-staying their visa period and to remove those who do not have a right to be in this country," he said.
"Biometrics are already helping tackle fraud in the asylum system and can help tighten our borders further, particularly through close working with other industrialised countries."
(gmcg)
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