Heathrow starts biometric security trial

LONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) A state of the art scanning machine using fingerprint and iris recognition technology began a year's trial at Heathrow airport today.

Passengers will be able to jump lengthy queues to get through security by volunteering to use the machine.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne officially opened the miSense system at Heathrow's terminal three.

''In an era of mass movement we can't secure our border effectively unless we deploy biometric technology much more widely than we do today,'' he told reporters.

He said the technology was also crucial for monitoring the entry of foreign nationals into the country, helping to tackle illegal immigration and preventing the use of multiple identities.

Passengers on some Cathay Pacific and Emirates flights to Dubai and Hong Kong will be invited to start the trial, which runs till January 2007.

In a second phase of the project, a membership card holding biometric details will allow travellers to speed through immigration using special machines.

The scheme also plans to provide border control agencies with information about passengers before they board.

REUTERS LL KP1715