Fingerprint scheme nets visa cheats

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Compulsory fingerprinting is now part of the UK visa application process in just under half of the countries of the world.

More than 500,000 sets of fingerprints, have been taken since the programme began last year. Of those, some 6,000 have been matched to "people of concern", said a spokesman for UKvisas, which is due to publish its annual report.

Home Office minister Liam Byrne said: "New fingerprint visas are fast becoming our first line of defence against illegal immigration.

"By collecting fingerprint information on foreign nationals coming to the UK in advance of their journey, we are building a new overseas border control which is flushing out the false visa applicants."

Foreign and Commonwealth Office minister Dr Kim Howells said: "Recording biometric information allows us to fix an individual's identity at the earliest point practicable and track their future dealings with the UK.

"In the past year, we have started to introduce biometric data collection technology to the visa application process. This is a key part of our objective of strengthening our borders."

The Government plans to collect fingerprints and a photograph from every UK visa applicant by April 2008.