IPS is working in partnership with the aviation industry to ensure that we maximise the benefits from introducing identity cards for airside workers.

The National Identity Service Delivery Plan was published in March 2008 and set out our plans for the introduction of identity cards as follows:

• The National Identity Service delivers improved identity assurance by locking identity to the individual through enrolment of biometrics (i.e. face and fingerprints) on the National Identity Register
• There is a twin track approach to National Identity Service delivery, starting with those employed in sensitive roles and locations, and where identity is important to public protection
• Rollout of the National Identity Service started on 25 November 2008 with the first Identity Cards for Foreign Nationals being
• From 20 October 2009, the Identity and Passport Service started to issue voluntary identity cards to a small group of people connected to the implementation of the National Identity Service
• From 30 November 2009, identity cards became available, on a voluntary basis, to all airside workers at Manchester and London City airports and to people who live and work in Greater Manchester.  This marked a major milestone for the National Identity Service, meeting the commitments made in the Delivery Plan published in March 2008

The Government believes that effective identity assurance is the foundation stone of a good personnel security regime in airports and elsewhere. In November 2008, identity cards were introduced for foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area. Already, they are making an important contribution to identity assurance and confirmation of the right to work. You can find out more about identity cards for foreign nationals on the UK Border Agency website.

Using identity cards as a single consistent means of identity assurance across airports will also facilitate quicker and more efficient pre-employment checking processes, with obvious benefits to both employers and employees. The Government therefore intends to introduce, in a phased manner, a voluntary system of identity cards for all those working airside, which began at Manchester and London City airports on 30 November 2009.

Benefits of identity cards for airside workers

Using identity cards as a single consistent means of proving identity across airports will bring real benefits to employers, employees and the public. They will:

• facilitate faster, cheaper and more joined-up pre-employment and security checking processes
• improve the portability of reference checks between employers and airports creating greater flexibility for employers and staff
• speed up pre-employment clearances for card holders moving from one airside job to another
• kick start joint work to explore opportunities for streamlining airside pass regimes
• give holders a highly secure and convenient identity document that can be used to prove their identity, and as a travel document within the European Economic Area for British citizens
• help ensure everyone using airports are confident about their safety whilst there

The Government is introducing identity cards for all those working airside in a phased manner, which began at Manchester and London City airports on 30 November 2009. The Government and industry in partnership will assess the benefits and achievements of the National Identity Service through an 18 month evaluation period that is informing how the process can be further developed for future phases.

The Government recognises the challenges facing the industry at this time and does not want to add any unnecessary burdens. During the evaluation period airside worker identity cards will be issued at no charge and a fund has been made available to support pre-employment checking and airside pass issuing infrastructure and process improvements.

We continue to work with wider industry to identify other groups for the on-going roll out of identity cards for workers in sensitive roles.

How it will work

Employees at the airport who volunteer to apply for an identity card will be provided with an application form, which the employee will complete and bring to the National Identity Service Customer Centre at an appointed time, along with any supporting identity documents.

At the enrolment centre, we will check the person's supporting documents and enter their details onto the system, before collecting digital images of their fingerprints and a digital photo in one of our enrolment booths. We expect that this would usually take less than half an hour.

After the person has left, we will check their fingerprints and personal details, such as date of birth, against a number of sources of information until we are sure of their identity. We may also invite them to attend a short identity interview. These checks build on those already undertaken for passport applications.

Once we are satisfied with our identity checks we will send the person their identity card, we expect this to be around ten days after the enrolment appointment in a straightforward case.

Further Information

If you have any questions, email us at cwic.enquiries@ips.gsi.gov.uk.