Passenger movement data to be tracked across the EU
Passenger information will be collected from travel providers as part of a new EU Directive.Once the law has been amended by parliament, the new EU Directive on Passenger Name Records (PNRs) will allow UK law enforcement agencies to track passenger movements based on information already collected by air carriers as part of their normal operations.
Immigration Minister, Damian Green MP, detailed the benefits of this new development in a statement made to the House of Commons on 10th May. Since 2005 the new e-Borders system has led to over 1,500 people being refused entry and over 8,700 arrests, including 57 for murder, 175 for rape/sexual assault, 25 for kidnapping, 441 for fraud, 397 for drugs offences and 920 for violence.
The new measures would not involve the creation of an EU-wide database of passenger information.
Once the new arrangements for collection of PNRs are in place it is hoped that they will help the UK and other EU member states prevent terrorist activities, people smuggling and other organised crime before it happens.
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