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Biometrics to fast track 'trusted' travellers
All eyes on US-UK speedy transition

By Nick Heath

Published: Thursday 03 July 2008

Biometric technology is to be used to speed up travel between the UK and the US.

Fingerprint, iris and facial recognition technology will be used to speed up frequent travellers' journeys through immigration control, as part of a UK-US agreement for a fast-travel option for trusted travellers going between the countries.

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The agreement is aimed at boosting business travel. Liam Byrne, border and immigration minister, revealed the agreement to city representatives on Wednesday.

The government said the deal will build on the success of the Iris scheme (Iris recognition immigration system) for trusted travellers, which enables registered passengers to enter the UK without queuing, following an eye scan.

More than 200,000 people have already enrolled in the scheme and it has been used more than one million times since its launch in March 2006.

Iris enrolment stations and gates are available at all five Heathrow terminals and at Birmingham, Gatwick and Manchester airports.

Byrne said in a statement: "Speedy travel between the UK and the US is crucial to large financial organisations."