Facial recognition will soon replace passport scans at major UK airports

Britons could soon be able to use facial recognition technology instead of showing their passports at UK e-gates, in a move designed to speed up arrivals and reduce queues at airports.

Under the new process, airlines would send passport photographs of British passengers due to arrive in the UK that day to Border Force.

If the passport scan also fails, the passenger would be directed to a staffed Border Force desk for manual processing.

Phil Douglas, director general of Border Force, told The Times: "It will mean we have a more secure border and a much faster transit through the airport.

The Border Force chief added: "Officers are going to be much more mobile."