Three airports in the UK have begun trialling the use of e-gates for travellers aged 10 and 11.
The trials are being conducted at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted ahead of the busy summer period.
Currently, only children aged 12 and older are permitted to use the e-gates. The reason for this is concerns over the safety of younger children.
“We don’t allow children under 12 to use e-gates because their faces change as they grow up, but also because of safeguarding and the potential of children being smuggled. We’re testing to see how safeguarding processes will work,” says Border Force Director General, Phil Douglas.
It is hoped that, if the trials are successful, the queues for arrivals will be faster.
