United Kingdom: UK Border Agency Plans to Exchange Fingerprint Data with the US, Canada and Australia

As reported at KableNET.com, the UK Border Agency plans to work with the United States, Canada and Australia to “introduce a system of appropriate data protection arrangements for fingerprint checks and data sharing.” This system, which is intended to help identify and bar foreign criminals from entering the UK, is one of the programs discussed in the agency’s business plan  issued on April 1.

Other highlights of the business plan include:

  • As of December 2008, the agency had enrolled more than 3.6 million sets of fingerprints from visa applicants, finding more than 5,200 cases of identity swaps.
  • By December 2009, the agency will open its National Border Targeting Centre, checking 60% of all international passenger movements (with the goal of checking 95% of movements by the end of 2010).
  • By 2011, all new applicants coming to the UK for more than six months, or extending their stay, will need to have a biometric identity card.
     

Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.