Face-to-face passport interviews?

The Home Office is reportedly looking for up to 70 premises in which to carry out face to face interviews with people applying for passports, with suggestions that as many as 600,000 people a year will have to attend. The Daily Telegraph reports that, as from late 2006, adults who are applying for a passport for the first time and 16-year-olds who had not previously held their own passports, will be made to attend interviews. The new requirement, revealed in a written ministerial statement by the minister for citizenship and immigration Des Browne, is said to be aimed at combating applications by “fraudsters, criminals and terrorists”. The Telegraph quotes Browne as saying: “Adults who have not previously held a British passport in their own name will be required to attend for short meeting before a passport can be issued. This will be combined with enhanced checking of the information applicants provide.” He reportedly added: “The programme will counter the misuse of passports in connection with illegal immigration, organised crime and terrorism. It will give individuals better protection from identity theft.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd