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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK defends its border procedures | UK defends its border procedures |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The UK government has defended itself against claims by Interpol's head that it is failing to check visitors against a database of stolen passports. | The UK government has defended itself against claims by Interpol's head that it is failing to check visitors against a database of stolen passports. |
| Ronald K Noble, the police agency's chief, said there was a "clear link between stolen passports and al-Qaeda linked terrorist activity". | Ronald K Noble, the police agency's chief, said there was a "clear link between stolen passports and al-Qaeda linked terrorist activity". |
| Mr Noble told the BBC's Today it was "extraordinary" the UK was not making use of the information at its disposal. | Mr Noble told the BBC's Today it was "extraordinary" the UK was not making use of the information at its disposal. |
| The Home Office has insisted border officials were aware of the list. | The Home Office has insisted border officials were aware of the list. |
| 'Dangerous people' | 'Dangerous people' |
| It said any name on the list which was also regarded as a threat by police forces or the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca) would be passed to border authorities. | It said any name on the list which was also regarded as a threat by police forces or the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca) would be passed to border authorities. |
| The UK is planning to incorporate the Interpol data into its passport checks. | |
| These priorities seem misplaced Ronald K NobleInterpol | |
| Mr Noble said in an open letter that only 17 out of Interpol's 186 member countries systematically checked the passport numbers of incoming travellers against the database. | |
| "On the other hand, all countries systematically check our bags to see if we are carrying bottles of water or other liquids," he said. | "On the other hand, all countries systematically check our bags to see if we are carrying bottles of water or other liquids," he said. |
| "These priorities seem misplaced." | "These priorities seem misplaced." |
| He also warned that a British "watch list" had not been passed to Interpol. | He also warned that a British "watch list" had not been passed to Interpol. |
| 'Tighten this up' | 'Tighten this up' |
| Tory immigration spokesman Damien Green said the government was more concerned with headline-grabbing policy announcements than practical measures such as the Interpol database. | Tory immigration spokesman Damien Green said the government was more concerned with headline-grabbing policy announcements than practical measures such as the Interpol database. |
| He added: "We are one of the countries that international terrorists want to hit. | He added: "We are one of the countries that international terrorists want to hit. |
| "Why are we not at the forefront of this technology?" | "Why are we not at the forefront of this technology?" |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Sky News on Sunday that the government was looking at the issue "as a matter of urgency". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Sky News on Sunday that the government was looking at the issue "as a matter of urgency". |
| He added: "We do now need more information flowing internationally about who are potential terrorists and who are potential suspects. | He added: "We do now need more information flowing internationally about who are potential terrorists and who are potential suspects. |
| "I think it is very important that we tighten this up." | "I think it is very important that we tighten this up." |