[May 26, 2004] UK's Biometric ID cards Launched In Scotland (inSourced - http://www.in-sourced.com) - A key part of the large-scale trial of the high-tech biometric technology which will underpin the UK's national identity card scheme has been launched in Scotland by UK Home Office Minister Des Browne. Members of the public will be able to sign up to have their irises, fingerprints and facial biometrics recorded as part of the UK Passport Service (UKPS) trial taking place at the Glasgow Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) office. Volunteers will receive a demonstrator smart card containing their details on an electronic chip. The UKPS trial will investigate the practicalities of the biometric enrolment process, with ten thousand volunteers across the UK taking part. The trial will inform plans to incorporate biometrics in passports and help build a base for the national compulsory identity cards scheme. The Government published draft legislation to bring in a compulsory national identity card scheme last month. Mr Browne said, "Identity crime is a growing threat to all countries. It costs the UK £1.3 billion a year, and facilitates organised crime, illegal immigration, benefit fraud, illegal working and terrorism. Only by planning ahead and taking steps now to create a modern, secure means of confirming identity, can we ensure that in the years to come we will be able to take on the increasingly sophisticated methods used by criminals, and that UK citizens have a secure form of identity to use in everyday life and travel. "The Government is to introduce a compulsory national UK identity card scheme to help tackle organised crime and protect the identities of British citizens. Using cutting-edge technology, the cards will link individuals' unique biometric data, such as iris scans, to a secure national database. This is an ambitious, long-term project, and it is essential that we get the technology right. The trial site being launched in Glasgow today is a vital part of this, laying the foundations for a robust and effective national identity card scheme." Chief Executive of UKPS Bernard Herdan said, "Identity crime is a growing problem both here and abroad, and the UK passport is increasingly being relied on as a key identity document. "Pioneering the use of biometrics is just one of a wide range of measures the UK Passport Service is undertaking to improve the security of our systems and of the passport document itself. We are working with other government departments and nations to catch identity fraudsters and prevent identity crime from happening in the first place." Chief Executive of DVLA Clive Bennett said, "The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is pleased to be extending our already close working relationship with UK Passport Service by providing our local office in Glasgow as one of the sites for the Biometrics Pilot." The trial is taking place at a total of four fixed sites - the London Passport office, Newcastle Registrar's office, Leicester Post Office and Glasgow DVLA office. A mobile unit will visit other locations across the country. Any UK resident aged 18 or over can volunteer to take part in the trial. Volunteers will complete a questionnaire about their experience of the enrolment process. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]