How we tested e-Borders
This page explains Project Semaphore and the part it has played in the e-Borders programme.
Project Semaphore was the e-Borders operational pilot, launched in November 2004. It gave us the ability for the first time to monitor the passengers' movements before they left or arrived in the UK on selected routes.
Semaphore successfully tested the concepts of a joined-up, modernised border control and security framework for the UK, and showed that capturing information about passengers before they travelled could help us to strengthen our border. It did this by giving us tighter control and providing an electronic record of passengers' movements.
The joint border operations centre
The joint border operations centre (JBOC) was set up in January 2005 as the operational centre of Semaphore. Staffed by officers from the UK Border Agency and the police, JBOC is responsible for providing detailed information to border agencies about passengers who are suspected of crime or who are of other interest to the agencies.
What did Semaphore and the joint border operations centre achieve?
Alerts issued because of information collected since 2005 have resulted in:
- the arrest and conviction of people wanted for serious crimes. There have been more than 5,350 arrests for crimes including murder, kidnap, sexual offences (including rape), assault and fraud. Interventions have resulted in fraudulently used British passports being impounded and the confiscation of drugs and tobacco. There have also been considerable numbers of passengers identified and refused permission to enter the UK.
For example, police arrested a passenger boarding a flight who was wanted for offences including theft and burglary. While he was in custody, police searched his house and found his partner dead. They charged him with murder; - the seizure of large quantities of cocaine, cannabis and tobacco. For example, a customs officer stopped a passenger and found 1.5kg of cocaine in her possession. She was prosecuted and jailed for seven years;
- the identification of sex offenders breaking their restrictions by travelling;
- the arrest and conviction of a man who had 170 blank, forged French passports in his possession. He was prosecuted and jailed for two years; and
- a visa being refused to a man who had tried to help someone enter the UK illegally and had previously had 17,000 cigarettes seized from him by customs officials.