Developed by Government-owned defence evaluation specialist QinetiQ, the Matchmaker system comes into play as soon as a passenger hands in their passport at check-in. If that person’s details are held on file because they’re either a previous or suspected criminal, the carrying airline will be alerted automatically.
The airline staff can then decide whether or not to call for security immediately, or have that passenger ‘tracked’ while they remain in the airport.
“This is exactly what we need,” said Captain Ian Hibberd, chair of the British Airline Pilots’ Association Security Committee, and who has been closely involved with Matchmaker’s development. “The place to stop would-be terrorists is on the ground, not in the air”.
The Home Office initiative follows a central Government announcement back in July of an addition to the Terrorism Act 2000, requiring both airlines and travel operators to take full and comprehensive details from travellers prior to departure.
A spokesperson for the Home Office confirmed to Security Management Today that the UK-designed Matchmaker system will be launched later this year. Officials are currently in discussion with Virgin and Go airlines (the latter having recently been bought-out by EasyJet) about a suitable launch date for the product.
The databases are still in development, the full details of which are being kept under wraps.
This month’s Main Feature (‘Air apparent?’, pp24-28) reviews the whole question of airport security post-September 11.
