Trusted city travellers to get biometric test access to US

IRIS scans will allow quicker passage

The Home Office today announced plans to introduce technology to allow regular travellers between the UK and the US to pass through border controls more swiftly.

Border and immigration minister Liam Byrne MP presented details of the agreement signed with the US Government as he and economic secretary to the Treasury Kitty Ussher MP met with City representatives today.

The agreement sets out the shared determination to use fingerprint, iris or facial recognition technology to speed-up border controls whilst maintaining their security.

"Speedy travel between the UK and the US is crucial to large financial organisations," said Byrne.

"That is why today I was delighted to meet representatives of large City employers, including foreign banks, to announce an agreement made with the US to speed up movement between the US and the UK for trusted people who regularly travel between the two countries."

The scheme aims to build on the success of the UK Border Agency's IRIS scheme for trusted travellers which enables registered passengers to enter the UK without queuing, following an eye scan.

Over 200,000 people have enrolled and over 1 million crossings have taken place since its launch in March 2006.