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ID cards to be trialled at UK airports

ID cards to be trialled at UK airports The proposed new national identity (ID) cards will be tested at two of the UK's leading national airports, according to reports.

An 18-month trial will go ahead at London City and Manchester airports under the Home Office's delivery plan for the ID cards.

The biometric cards will be issued to airside workers at the airports during the second half of 2009 as part of an evaluation period.

The National Identity Scheme Delivery Plan was revealed on 6 March outlining the details of the estimated £4.7 billion project which will run for the next ten years, reports the BBC.

"The first ID cards will be issued to people working in specific sensitive roles or locations where verification of identity will enhance the protection of the public," said the Home Office plan.

"This will start in the second half of 2009, with the issuing of identity cards to those working airside in the country's airports," it added.

Marriage visa holders and non-EU students will be the first group to receive ID cards, followed by workers at the airports before the scheme is opened up on a voluntary basis in 2010.

However, the Home Office originally intended to have around 200,000 airport workers in the UK holding the cards, which carry fingerprint data, by the middle of 2009.

Phil Booth from campaign group, No 2 ID, described this to the BBC as a "complete roll back" of the original trial proposed by government.

"We are seeing a rather transparent attempt, I think, to save some ministerial face," he added.

The British Air Transport Association (BATA) has also objected to the scheme by describing it to Reuters as "half baked".


Travel Industry News posted on 06 November 2008

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