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Passport applicants to attend face-to-face interviews

(20 Feb 2007)

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Adults applying for a passport for the first time will have to attend a face-to-face interview.

The move, announced by the Home Office's Identity and Passport Service (IPS), aims to reduce passport fraud and forgery which have been manipulated for the purposes of illegal immigration and benefit fraud.

Taking place in 69 offices across the country, the interviews will mainly consist of applicants being asked to confirm details about themselves which someone looking to steal their identity may not be aware of.

Due to launch in April, it is thought the ruling will affect some 610,000 applicants annually, about ten per cent of the total number of applicants each year.

From 2009 the scheme is set to be extended to those renewing lost, stolen or expired passports.

According to an IPS study earlier this year, about 290,996 British passports were either reported lost or stolen during 2006.

Executive director for service delivery for IPS Bernard Herdan claimed: "It is vital that people take better care of their passports, both at home and abroad."

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