UK Government to track and store travel details
LONDON – The travel plans and personal details of every holidaymaker, business traveller and day-tripper who leaves Britain are to be tracked by the British Government, the Daily Telegraph has disclosed.
Anyone departing the UK by land, sea or air will have their trip recorded and stored on a database for a decade.
Passengers leaving every international seaport, station or airport will have to supply detailed personal information as well as their travel plans.
So-called "booze cruisers" who cross the Channel for a couple of hours to stock up on wine, beer and cigarettes will be subject to the rules.
Even swimmers attempting to cross the Channel and their support teams will be subject to the rules which will require the provision of travellers’ personal information such as passport and credit card details, home and email addresses and exact travel plans.
The full extent of the impact of the government’s "e-borders" scheme emerged amid warnings that passengers face increased congestion as air, rail and ferry companies introduce some of the changes over the Easter holidays.
The new checks are being introduced piecemeal by the UK Border Agency.
By the end of the year 60 percent of journeys made out of Britain will be affected with 95 per cent of people leaving the country being subject to the plans by the end 2010.
In most cases the information will be expected to be provided via Internet 24 hours ahead of travel and will then be stored on a Government database for around ten years.
The changes are being brought in as the Government tries to tighten border controls and increase protection against the threat of international terrorism.
A UK Border Agency spokesman defended the e-borders scheme. "It allows us to secure the UK’s borders by screening people as they travel in and out of the UK.
"The e-Borders scheme has already screened over 82m passengers travelling to Britain, leading to more than 2,900 arrests, for crimes including murder, drug dealing and sex offences."
Ian Jarrett
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