Biometrics And Airport Security Photo Stock Images

What is “Biometrics”?

Biometrics refers to the methods used to confirm the identity of an individual person, based on a physical or behavioural characteristic. Examples include fingerprints, face and iris recognition, DNA and voice recognition.

The use of biometrics at UK airports has become more common and can allow passengers a ‘fast track’ through airport security.

Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS)

The Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS) is a form of biometrics that identifies a person by the individual pattern of the iris in their eye and is used as a method of border control. A photograph is taken of the eye and then converted into a digital code which is then compared to a database of codes when the eye is scanned at the IRIS both in the immigration arrival hall. Once the two codes are matched, the passenger is permitted entrance to the country. Once a traveller is registered, entrance via the IRIS barrier can take just 20 seconds.

IRIS is currently operating at all five Heathrow terminals and both North and South Gatwick terminals.

Photo's and Images on Biometrics at Heathrow

Trials at Heathrow airport began in 2002 using the IRIS technology. The trials, using the JetStreamTM product were the first time that iris recognition technology was tested at a UK airport. Since this successful trial, IRIS was officially launched at Heathrow in 2006 and Gatwick in 2007 and is now used in all five Heathrow terminals and also in both North and South Gatwick terminals.

To enrol in the IRIS scheme, a special video camera will take an image of the passenger’s iris. Around 512 bytes of digital pattern data is extracted from the image, digitally encoded, sorted and later compared with the person's iris on entering the immigration hall. The system relies on the fact that every person has a unique iris pattern.

Once enrolled in the IRIS scheme, can have their identity verified in seconds each time they arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick Airport by glancing into a camera in the designated IRIS booth. The iris pattern is compared with the stored digital code and if the details match, a ticket is printed and a barrier opens, allowing them to enter the UK.

Passengers may apply to use IRIS provided they are:

• A permanent resident of the UK.

• Permitted to enter or remain in the UK for more than six months and have more than two months left of their leave to enter or remain.

• A short-term visitor to the UK and can demonstrate they have been granted leave to enter the UK as a visitor on at least two occasions in the last six months, or four occasions in the last 12 months.

The one-off enrolment process is quick and costs nothing. Home Office Immigration officers record your passport information and UK immigration status on a database, along with a photograph of the unique iris patterns of your eyes.

There is an enrolment room in each of the departure lounges at Gatwick and Heathrow.

For more information on the IRIS programme, visit www.iris.gov.uk.

Heathrow Terminals 1 and 5 Stock Photo Images

With the introduction of common departure lounges for international and domestic passengers, Heathrow Terminals 1 and 5 are also utilising biometric technology to ensure that a transferring international passenger cannot swap travel documents with a domestic passenger in order to evade immigration control.

Passengers departing on a domestic flight, or transferring from an international to a domestic flight, will be photographed before they pass through Immigration. This data is then encrypted for security and when it's time to board, the photograph will be checked by security staff. All captured data is destroyed within 24 hours to comply with the Data Protection Act.