New UK steps to tighten border controls

The UK's David Cameron government is putting in place tighter border controls that include checking details of all passengers travelling to Britain from India and other non-EU countries from April.

Detailing the new system called 'e-Borders', Immigration Minister Damian Green said there will be clear rules into the correct level of checks for every type of passenger and all types of goods that cross the UK border.

The e-Borders programme collects and analyses information on passengers and crew intending to travel to or from the UK before they travel.

He said, "A safe and secure border means not just better immigration control, but safer streets and more secure citizens. There can be no compromises on border security. In a dangerous world, our border is one of our main protections." 

In 2011, 2.6 million UK visa applications were made and there were around 200 million passenger journeys across UK borders.

Five hundred million tonnes of freight passed through seaports.

The minister said: "(e-Borders) combined with our strict visa regime means that all non-EEA (non-European Economic Area) arriving from outside Europe will have been checked once, and many twice, while they are still thousands of miles from our passport controls. That means better protection than ever before and a stronger border."