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10 000 fraudsters get passports
20/03/2007 19:22 - (SA)
London - About 10 000 British passports were issued to fraudulent applicants last year, said the home office on Wednesday as it launched a new initiative to reduce identity fraud.
Face-to-face interviews for new applicants, to be introduced in May, could have helped uncover two men convicted of terrorism-related offences who had managed to secure two false British passports each, said officials.
One, a Moroccan, is serving an 18-year sentence for a bombing in Casablanca.
Another man, Dhiren Barot, who also had seven British passports issued in his own identity, was jailed for at least 40 years last November for plotting to kill thousands with attacks in Britain and the US.
Identity fraud often turns out to be the "tip of the iceberg" for individuals involved in more serious criminal activity, said James Hall, chief executive of the Identity and Passport Service (IPS).
Fraud 'done by post'
Most fraudulent applications are done remotely, either by post or through a third party. "People think they can get away with it," said Hall.
The requirement to attend an interview will apply to people aged 16 or older who have never had a passport before.
This will mean about 600 000 interviews per year, roughly 10% of all applicants.
Home office minister Joan Ryan said "We are currently one of only a few western nations that do not have a face-to-face element to the passport application process.
"We know this leads to fraudulent applications and that is why things are going to change this year, starting with first-time adult customers."
Face-to-face interviews required
From 2009 personal appearances, for fingerprinting and in some cases interviews, will be required for all passport applicants, including those renewing existing passports.
The IPS said it detected about 6 500 attempted frauds last year, with 50% of those originating in the first-time adult application category.
Interviews will last 10 to 20 minutes and take place at 69 dedicated offices throughout the country.
The new requirement will mean that new applicants should allow six weeks for their passport instead of the previous maximum of four weeks, said officials.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said the fraudulent passport figures showed the system was in disarray.
'A shocking admission'
He said: "This is a shocking admission which betrays chaos at the heart of the passport system.
"It also further undermines the government's case for their expensive ID card system."
Last month, a report suggested more than 1 000 passports were going missing in the post each year.
- Reuters
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