Stansted want passengers to use new passport gates
13.05.09
Stansted Airport is trying to encourage passengers returning to the UK with a British or European biometric or e-passports to make use of the facial recognition gates currently being trialled at the hub. Holders of the passports - which have an electronic chip to store the holders photo and information - can use the automated gates, which scan passengers' faces and compare the image with their passport photo.
The facial recognition gates work by using scanners to compare the faces of passengers to their biometric passports. The system measures points on a person's face and compares them with the digital passport photograph. UK Border Agency officers continue to oversee the gates and intervene if they have any suspicions about any passengers, who are also be subject to random manual checks.
Around 160,000 passengers have used the machines since the trial began at Stansted in December. There are plans to extend the technology to ten more UK airports this August as the Government attempts to strengthen border security while cutting waiting times.
Barry McGill, assistant director for the UK Border Agency at Stansted, said: 'My message to passengers travelling through Stansted is, if you hold one of the new biometric passports, please take advantage of these gates and help to reduce the time you spend at passport control. You don't need to register. All you need is a biometric passport issued since 2006.'
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