Security fears over new airport scanners
05.10.08
Faulty facial recognition scanners at a UK airport are allowing two people through immigration control on just one passport, the Telegraph reports 'Sources' from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) told the newspaper that the devices are failing to detect when two people pass through them at the same time.
The system, which replaces traditional passport control measures, is undergoing a ‘live trial’ at Manchester Airport, where a UKBA worker told the Telegraph that it was suffering almost daily malfunctions. He said immigration officers had been able to accompany travellers through the scanners without an alarm being triggered, even though the booths are supposed to detect if more than one person enters at a time.
When the pilot scheme was launched seven weeks ago, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith pledged the fully automated facial recognition machines would be part of a ‘ring of security’ at Britain's borders. The machines replace human immigration officers, by measuring unique details about the traveller's face as they pass through, and comparing those measurements with details stored on a microchip within the new British ‘ePassports’.
The newspapers source added: ‘This is a massive loophole and a serious problem for security. It should certainly sound an alarm if there are two people trying to come through at the same time. It could lead to widespread immigration abuse and compromise the efficiency of immigration control. One particular concern is that it could be exploited by child traffickers, because it won't pick up if you have a child on your back.’
However, a Home Office spokeswoman told the Telegraph: ‘It is pretty much impossible that someone could get through border control by tailgating. The trial is heavily supervised, there is someone watching the gates and watching them on a monitor. The purpose of this trial is to establish that the gates are operating effectively.’
In addition to the six-month pilot at Manchester, a second trial is due to begin at Stansted next month.
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