This trial was commissioned by UK Passport Service (UKPS) in partnership with the Home Office Identity Cards Programme, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and implemented by Atos Origin.

It is part of a series of trials contributing towards the plans for a national identity cards scheme, and the international drive for increased document security. More than 10,000 participants were involved during the trial period (from April to December 2004). The results from the trial are intended to help inform the Government's plans to introduce biometrics to support improved identity authentication and help prevent identity fraud.