Des Browne

The Home Office has announced it is expanding a scheme to prevent illegal immigrants boarding planes bound for Britain.

Currently, some 27 "airline liaison officers" are based at posts across Europe, Asia and Africa.

They work with airline staff to stop passengers who do not have genuine documents setting off for the UK.

Some £4 million is being invested in the scheme over the next five years, with the number of officers being increased to 42.

"Our network of airline liaison officers has had a significant impact helping to disrupt the activities of people traffickers, target undocumented travellers and prevent unaccompanied and improperly documented children being sent to the UK," said immigration minister Des Browne.

"The expansion of the ALO network will increase our ability to respond quickly, flexibly and in an intelligence-led way to the ever-changing methods used by facilitators and illegal migrants.

"It is part of our five year strategy, along with e-borders, biometric identity cards and visas to deliver strengthened border controls for the 21st century."

The government said that in 2004 the existing programme led airlines to prevent over 30,000 passengers from embarking on flights, including more than 800 improperly documented children.