To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of passengers (1) departing from, and (2) arriving in the United Kingdom by (a) air, (b) rail, and (c) sea, have their passports scanned electronically.
Answered on
2 July 2014
Border Force officers at the Primary Checkpoint (immigration control) scan passports electronically and complete other checks on all arriving passengers seeking admission or leave to enter the UK in accordance with the Border Force Operating Mandate. Border Force officers perform in-person exit controls on passengers departing the UK on an intelligence-led basis in accordance with the Border Force Operating Mandate. Where Border Force officers carry out in-person exit controls they may check and scan a passenger's passport electronically as well as completing other checks.