LONDON: Data on all passengers leaving the UK is being collected and handed to the Home Office under a scheme being phased in at ports and border crossings.
Transport staff are recording details of all travellers leaving by commercial air, sea and rail transport.
The exit checks were set to particularly affect cross-channel ferry and Channel Tunnel travellers.
The government said they were needed to combat illegal immigration and would cause the “least possible disruption”.
Initial reports suggested the new system had started without any major problems, with no delays at the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone or P&O Ferries’ terminal in Dover.
For the first month all passports will be scanned but only 25% of the passport holders will have their details verified to ensure they are genuine, in a bid to minimise disruption.
After a month, there will be a move to 50% verification and by the middle of June 100% verification will be introduced.
