Passengers on domestic flights and ferries between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland will be required to carry identity papers for the first time from next year.
The move will effectively establish a highly controversial internal border within the UK and could pave the way for identity checks on all domestic flights and ferries in Britain. Once operational, the system will allow the police to build up a complete picture of passenger movements between Ulster and the mainland.
And it will enable them to carry out background checks to identify suspected criminals and potential terrorists.
The move comes as police and security services are pushing for wider access to information on passenger movements within Britain, whether by air, sea or national rail and coach networks.
Last night, Unionists said the proposals were tantamount to treating people from the Province as "second-class citizens".
Under the new system, personal information given by a passenger when purchasing a ticket will be checked on police computers looking for possible suspects. Travellers will also be required to produce a valid passport or driving licence to buy a ticket.
The system is similar to that already in place to check those travelling to and from Britain on international flights and allows intelligence services to "profile" suspects, looking for patterns of criminal behaviour. (Daily Mail)
