'Right to issue British passport is at stake'

MOVES to tighten security at the island's borders are vital, according to Customs and Immigration.

The Home Department wants to spend £1m. to implement a series of measures over five years that include biometric passports and e-Borders - both key measures for future trade and travel to the UK and further afield.

The scheme follows moves in the UK aimed at clamping down on illegal immigration and preventing criminals entering jurisdictions by checking and stopping them before they board aircraft or boats.

Chief officer Rob Prow stressed discussions on its implementation in Guernsey were very much in their infancy and warned about drawing conclusions too early when consultation has not even taken place.

'The submission, while it included an element of e-Borders, also relates to the ability to continue issuing the variant British passport in Guernsey and the second phase of biometrics and our ability to facilitate Customs clearance and European requirements that such declarations will in future need to be made,' he said.

Because all of the projects were long term and in very early stages of development, it was extremely difficult to provide any accurate cost, he said, but it was estimated to be up to £1m.

'It's the view of the Customs and Immigration Service that it's absolutely vital both for the travelling public and for industry in the island to be able to continue to issue a British passport beyond 2012, which is the predicted time where the second generation biometric passport will need to be introduced.'

The island is part of the European common customs territory and so was required to meet European standards.

Last year, the UK Government, through the Minister of Justice, approached all three Crown Dependencies asking them to participate in its e-Borders programme.