Interviews are being introduced to the passport application process
because:
Passport fraud and forgery are serious crimes that are becoming
more sophisticated. Illegal immigration, ID theft and benefit
frauds are often carried-out with the use of false or stolen
passports.
The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has a vital role in reducing
identity fraud, which is a major growth area for organised crime. Identity
theft is particularly hard to detect as an individual may not realise
it has happened to them until it is too late.
Banks, building societies and other organisations are now seeking
photographic proof of identity prior to business transactions, with
a valid passport increasingly being accepted.
Confirmation of identity and entitlement to a British passport is
at the heart of our operation.
Passport interviews are a major IPS initiative aimed at improving
the integrity of the identity authentication and passport issuing process.
IPS wants to develop and share database information with Government
and private-sector organisations, building on the success we have had
with our Lost, Stolen and Recovered passport database.
We work closely with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders
to ensure that individuals who apply for passports fraudulently, or
use forged documents, are stopped and do not profit from their crimes.
24-hour Passport Adviceline: 0300 222 0000 (see terms and conditions). Calls made to 0300 numbers from landlines and mobile phones are charged to customers at their network provider's national rate. Live operators are available to assist with your enquiry 24 hours a day.
