The UK government is phasing in exit checks at the country's ports and border crossings.Details of all travellers leaving by commercial air, sea and rail transport are being collected by staff of airlines, rail and ferry operators, and handed to the Home Office. The government says that exit checks will improve its understanding of who is leaving the UK and create a much clearer picture of who is staying in the country when they have no right to be there. They will also help the police and security services track the movements of known criminals and terrorists.The Home Office says it has been working closely with ports and carriers, who are collecting the exit check data from their customers, since 2013. This has helped design a system that takes into account the unique needs of businesses and the challenges faced in each port or on each route in order that the new checks are brought in with the least possible impact on customers. The launch date of 8 April 2015 was chosen so that carrier staff are not conducting new procedures for the first time at the busy Easter weekend.Eurotunnel, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, has confirmed it is moving to 100% checks immediately, and is also asking passengers to provide Advance Passenger Information (API).The Minister for Security and Immigration James Brokenshire says: "Exit checks will provide us with vital information that confirms a person's exit from the UK. The coalition Government committed to reintroducing them in 2010 and the Immigration Act 2014 put in place legislation which gave carrier and port staff the powers to carry out these checks."Port and travel operators are experts in their business and know their customers best, which is why we've supported them to design and trial the systems for collecting data in a way that will minimise the impact on customers.It is vital for the country's economy that our ports operate smoothly and that families can get away on holiday on time, and important for our security that we continue to strengthen our borders. After two years spent working closely with the ports we will stay focused on successfully introducing these checks together."

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