BAA going a step too far with fingerprints

12.00.00am GMT Mon 24th Mar 2008

Commenting on the proposal that BAA would take four fingerprints from travellers at Heathrow as part of the access arrangements for the new terminal, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"This is an intrusive proposal which may very well be illegal under the Data Protection act 1998 as it is taking a hammer to crack a nut.

"BAA is going step or two too far. I have put parliamentary questions down to the Home Office asking for its view on whether private operators should have the right to insist on taking such sensitive biometric data."