Senior officers from Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service visited London in October as part of a study programme organised by the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department, aiming to enhance border security practices and explore biometric identification methods.
The SBGS representatives participated in the Biometrics Institute’s Annual Congress, where they shared insights on border control and illegal migration management. Major Oleksii Markovskyi, Chief of the Document Examination Unit, delivered a keynote address on using biometric identification in investigating fraudulent documents.
The visit included site tours of London Heathrow Airport and an Immigration Removal Centre, providing the delegation with a comprehensive understanding of UK border operations. Meetings with UK Border Force and UK Visas and Immigration facilitated bilateral discussions on passport checks, e-gate integration, and visa assessment processes.
The study visit concluded with discussions on certifying SBGS forensic experts in biometric chip authentication. The OSCE plans to facilitate this certification in April 2025, supported by the U.S. Mission to the OSCE. This initiative aims to reduce illegal border crossings through enhanced identity verification methods.
