07 August 2008

UK government seeks access to all PNR records

LONDON - The British government is setting its sights on accessing all PNR details of those flying in and out of the UK in order to counter serious crime.

UK immigration minister Liam Byrne will respond to a House of Lords EU committee report on passenger name records by recommending that the passenger details of those using any means of travel, from planes to ferries to Eurostar, to enter or leave Britain should be available for scrutiny by the government.

Currently EU law only allows the government to use PNR information when combatting terrorist threats or instances of organised crime.

But ministers say this hinders enforcement officers from tackling immigration issues and revenues and customs offences.

There will also be a push to allow the government to study the PNRs of passengers on domestic flights and those flying between EU states.

At the moment, they can only look at the passenger details of people flying into and out of the EU

By Dinah Hatch

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