[holding answer 7 January 2008]: Project Semaphore was launched in November 2004 and was commissioned to run for 39 months to provide an operational prototype to trial e-Borders concepts and technology in order to inform and de-risk the e-Borders solution.
Up to November 2007 the cost of Project Semaphore was £38 million.
To date, there have been over 19,000 alerts issued resulting in more than 1500 arrests for crimes which include murder, kidnap, rape, assault, firearms and fraud. These include:
Significant number of registered sex offenders identified leaving UK.
Significant counter-terrorist interventions.