First biometric passports to be issued this week
(Filed: 06/03/2006)
The first British biometric e-passports will be issued to
applicants this week, the Home Office has announced.
The new passports have added security features including a chip
holding the carrier's facial details in a bid to combat fraud and
forgery.
Lord Strathclyde, Conservative leader in the Lords, said this
effectively made ID cards compulsory for the vast majority, in
breach of Labour's manifesto promise that they would initially be
voluntary.
He said the Government would have "great difficulty" in getting the
provision through the Lords and rejected the argument of Leader of
the Commons Geoff Hoon that peers should bow to the will of
MPs.
Andy Burnham, Home Office minister, said the new passports will
help in the detection of forged or manipulated documents while
confirming the identity of the individual.
"Biometric technology makes use of the unique features we all have
and there is no doubt that the use of biometric information to link
a person to a passport will enhance security," he said.
The e-passports will be introduced gradually throughout 2006 and
will be issued to all applicants by the end of August.
The electronic chip will contain the digitally coded measurements
of the holders features like the distances between eyes, nose,
mouth and ears.
These technological advances are in the process of being adopted by
more than 40 countries to improve the security of travel documents
and border controls.