Airports to trial facial-recognition technology

UK airports are to test new automated facial-recognition technology this summer, in a bid to improve security and ease congestion.

The government has revealed that holders of new UK and EU biometric passports will have their faces screened rather than being checked by passport officers.

If the trial is successful, the new technology could be extended to all major UK airports.

Liam Byrne, the Home Office minister for immigration, told the BBC: "Tougher checks do take time, but we don't want long waits, so the UK Border Agency will soon be testing automatic gates for British citizens.

"We will test them this year, and if they work put them at all key ports."

Gary Murphy, head of operational design and development for the UK Border Agency, added that he believed the machines could do a "better job" than passport security officials at preventing identity fraud.

"We are planning a trial of facial recognition gates to see if they deliver our requirements," he said.

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