UK's first Biometric Passports

The UK Passport Service has issued its first biometric passport, it said on Monday.

All Britons applying for a passport from August will receive an electronic version of the document. As well as a conventional photograph, it will include a chip which will store the individual's facial biometric and other security advances.

Andy Burnham, Home Office minister, claimed that the advances would help improve the detection of forged documents and confirm the identity of the document's owner.

'Biometric technology makes use of the unique features we all have and there is no doubt that the use of biometric information to link a person to a passport will enhance security,' he added.

Mr Burnham also hinted that fingerprint data may also be included on the chip at a later date, 'in step with our European partners'. Other countries across the EU are considering developing biometric passports.

Biometric passports' association with the proposed national identification scheme has been the subject of controversy. Bills currently going through parliament will see individuals who sign up to biometric passports added to the national identity register database.