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New blitz on UK borders announced Border controls shake-up set out
(about 7 hours later)
The Home Office is to set out new measures to strengthen Britain's borders and cut illegal immigration. All visitors to Britain requiring a visa are now having their fingerprints taken in a bid to control illegal immigration, the Home Office has said.
Ministers will announce that from this month everyone applying for a UK visa will be fingerprinted in a bid to deter criminals and fight terrorism. Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said the new system, completed three months ahead of schedule, has already spotted 500 cases of identity swapping.
The government is also expected to set a new target to increase the number of foreign prisoners being deported. In a wide-ranging speech, he outlined 10 key changes to the UK's border controls to be implemented in 2008.
In 2007, a record 4,200 non-British criminals were removed from the UK after serving their sentences. They provide a "compassionate" way of getting "stronger borders", he said.
Cost savings
Under the new rules, anyone applying for a visa must submit to a digital finger scan - the 21st century equivalent of the old ink fingerprints - and a full-face digital photograph.Under the new rules, anyone applying for a visa must submit to a digital finger scan - the 21st century equivalent of the old ink fingerprints - and a full-face digital photograph.
The Home Office says the measures are part of a process it calls "exporting the borders". BORDER CONTROLS ACTION PLAN Check fingerprints before a visa is issued. To be brought in within 15 daysSpot fines for employers who do not make right-to-work checks, within 60 daysIntroduce a new points system for managing migration, within 80 daysIntroduce a single border force and police-like powers for frontline staff, within 100 daysConfirm number of foreign national prisoners deported in 2008 exceeds 2007, within 180 daysActivate powers to automatically deport foreign national prisoners, within 200 daysExpand detention capacity within 300 daysBegin issuing compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals who want to stay, within 300 daysCount foreign nationals in and out of the country by ChristmasWithin 360 days to make and enforce 60% asylum decisions within six months
The rollout of the system was due to be completed by April, but the government is expected to say on Monday that it has been finished three months early and under budget. It will apply to 133 countries, which account for three quarters of the world's population, and involve fingerprints being checked against UK databases.
It will apply in 133 countries worldwide. The rollout of the system was due to be completed by April, but Mr Byrne said it had been finished three months early and several million pounds under budget.
The system relies on UK staff working overseas who check the details of every applicant against a central government computer in London before deciding whether to grant a visa. "The public wants stronger borders," he said. "They want us to shut down the causes of illegal immigration and hold newcomers to account, deporting rule breakers where necessary.
Ministers say the new biometric border controls will deter identity fraudsters, illegal immigrants and criminals, and help track the movements of terrorist suspects. "They want a compassionate system, which makes and enforces decisions fast when we have obligations to honour - and lets those we need contribute to Britain as long as they speak English, pay tax and obey the law.
"My goal, therefore, in 2008 is as ambitious as it is urgent. There are four themes to our work: protection, prevention, accountability and compassion.
"By Christmas the system will look and feel different. Every month the public will be able to see us not talking about change, but delivering on our 10 point plan for change."
One million people have given their biometric fingerprints so far, with 10,000 visa applicants identified who have previously been fingerprinted in the UK in connection with immigration cases or asylum applications.
Ministers are also consulting on plans to overhaul how marriage and short term visas are issued.
And Mr Byrne said the plan is to increase the number of foreign prisoners being deported from the record 4,200 non-British criminals removed from the UK after serving their sentences in 2007.