Faster Border Controls For Heathrow Announced

A joint initiative to reduce waiting times at Heathrow's border controls to a maximum of 15 minutes for UK passengers has been announced today by the Home Secretary and BAA.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Mike Brown, Chief Operating Officer at Heathrow Airport, pledged to work together to reduce the maximum waiting times for UK and EU passengers entering the UK from 25 to 15 minutes and from 45 to 30 minutes for those from outside the EU.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA), since its formation in April, has been working with airport operators to improve the experience for passengers at UK border controls and speed-up their entry into the country. A similar agreement was signed up with Manchester Airport in August.

Jacqui Smith said: "A strong border is essential for the security of the UK. It is crucial that those with no right to be in this country are barred from entry.

"Today's agreement will combine these tough checks with our vow to make the process as quick as possible for legitimate travellers."

The UK is undergoing the biggest shake-up in its borders for nearly 45 years. The level of staff working at the Border is at an all time high. The UKBA has 25,000 staff, including more than 9,000 Customs and Immigration Officers.

By 2010 the new hi-tech electronic borders system - eBorders - will count 99% of foreign nationals from outside the EEA in and out of the UK, while checking them against watch-lists.

So far the £1.2 billion eBorders system has screened 50 million passengers travelling to Britain, leading to more than 2,000 arrests, including murderers, drug dealers and sex offenders.

(JM)