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Holidaymakers warned their postcode could delay passport application
Customers who live in areas with a high proportion of ethnic minorities might suffer longer delays in getting new children’s passports issued, according to a report today.
It claims that officials are carrying out additional checks on applications from 100 postcodes, more than 40 of which are in London.
A report in the Guardian, which claimed it has seen leaked documents, claimed many of the postcodes were in areas with a high proportion of ethnic minorities.
The postcodes selected for additional scrutiny represent just over 5% of all postcode districts in the UK, but include three out of four of the most ethnically diverse areas in the country, Luton, Leicester and Birmingham.
The Passport Office came in for heavy criticism this summer when long delays in issuing passports led to some holidaymakers being forced to cancel their trips.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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