A UK first; Iris biometric access control solution implemented at Manchester Airport aims to enhance airport security.

Liverpool- Human Recognition Systems (HRS), the UK’s leading biometric and identity management consultancy, has partnered with Manchester Airport and the Department for Transport (DfT) to implement the UK’s first Iris Biometric access control portal.

The majority of airports across the UK and around the world use access control cards to regulate movement of people from landside to airside within the airports. To enforce adequate security levels Airport Security Officers (ASO) man the entrance to each entry point carrying out a variety of checks, which can be time consuming and costly.

The biometric access control system enables Manchester airport, one of the largest airports in the UK and which employees over 25,000 staff, to transit staff from airside through to landside safely and securely. The solution, provided by Human Recognition Systems incorporates single person volumetric access control portals combined with Iris recognition cameras, allowing staff access into restricted zones. The solution augments the already robust manual checking procedures the airport has in place.

Mike Fazackerley, Director of Security and Customer Service at Manchester Airport, said, “We have worked with HRS now for nearly five years on a number of projects within the airport concerning the secure and accurate identification of workers. The biometric access control project is the next step in the journey for both HRS and the airport in enabling us to continue to provide a safe, secure and convenient airport environment for staff.”

Neil Norman, CEO, Human Recognition Systems (HRS) said: “By working closely with Manchester airport and the Department for Transport we were able to use our unique skills and knowledge to deliver a solution that will ensure employees and passengers both feel more reassured about the airport’s security. In particular this partnership shows how biometric systems, in this case a 25,000 user iris recognition system, can really be implemented resulting in significant and tangible benefits to a large scale business.”

Human Recognition Systems will continue to work closely with the airport and Department for Transport to ensure the success of the project, primarily around the technology, fit with the environment and most importantly with the people using the system.

About Human Recognition Systems
Human Recognition Systems (HRS) is among the world’s leading Biometric and Identity Management Consulting, Technology and Systems Integration companies. Specialising in innovative, early-stage technologies, HRS focuses on delivering solutions for real world problems by identifying people and their behaviours - using an approach that gives equal consideration to people, policy and process. Human Recognition Systems works to the principle of simplifying the complicated. For more information, please visit http://www.hrsltd.com.

For further information please contact Laura Tallett on 0117 9073400, or email laura@jbp.co.uk.

January 2008