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Sunday 15 March 2009

Big Brother to spy on your holidays as security database is set up to log all trips abroad

All trips out of Britain are to be recorded on a massive new security database - along with personal details of every business traveller and holidaymaker. People planning a journey abroad will have to submit their exact travel plans along with details of their passports, home addresses, email addresses, and even credit cards.

Civil liberties groups voiced alarm at the scale of the new system - called 'e-borders' - which is aimed at tightening Britain's perimeters and countering terrorism. Anyone who does not comply will face the risk of criminal prosecution and fines of up to £5,000.The rules will apply to all journeys that involve leaving the UK, whether by air, sea or Channel Tunnel, regardless of how brief the trip. Would-be travellers will have to log details online and the database will eventually track 250million trips every year, according to a report today in The Daily Telegraph. Airlines, train companies and ship operators will also face fines if they fail to provide details of their crew and passengers. Massive delays are anticipated at airports and seaports at Easter as the UK Border Agency introduces some of the new regulations. The UK Border Agency said today that 82million passengers had already been recorded entering Britain - a process which had yielded 'more than 2,900 arrests for crimes including murder, drug dealing and sex offences' (Daily Mail)