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No idea where your ID is? |
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Tuesday, 19 September 2006 |
Careless youngsters are putting their passports at risk, the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) warned today.
Ask a student where their mobile phone, iPod or cheque book is and they can probably tell you immediately, but when it comes to valuable documents, new research reveals many of them would not know where to begin.
According to research carried out for IPS, when put on the spot, only half of young people (49%) could say where their passport was without having to think or look for it. Two thirds (60%) could not say, without checking, which month their passport was due for renewal. The same number (62%) do not have a record or copy of the passport or its number in case of emergencies.
This is despite the fact that a third of young people (31%) rely on their passport as proof of age in bars and nightclubs.
Even more concerning, 41% of young people admit they do not keep their passport locked away or in a secure place - they'd rather keep it in a drawer (12%) or on their person (6%). iPods and mobiles are treated with far more care - 72% of young people keep these valuables either locked away or in a safe place.
IPS Executive Director Bernard Herdan said:
"While young people are rightly concerned about the whereabouts of their phones and iPods, it seems too many still underestimate the potential consequences of losing their passport. Losing an iPod may mean you can't listen to your favourite track, but besides making you a target for fraudsters, a lost or stolen passport could mean missing out on a trip abroad, be it the start of a gap year, or just a fun trip to the sun."
This research comes as IPS introduces major changes to British passports to help fight fraud and forgery and meet international standards. These include:
* enhanced background checks on passport applicants;
* the introduction of new biometric "ePassports" including a scan of the holder's face in a chip. From the end of the summer all new passports will include this technology;
* from early 2007, rolling out a new process of face-to-face interviews for everyone applying for an adult passport (over 16) for the first time.
What to do if you lose your passport
You must report a lost or stolen passport to IPS as soon as you can so that it can be cancelled. If this is not done, someone else may try to travel on your passport or use your identity illegally in some other way.
If your passport was lost or stolen abroad you should contact the local police. You should also report the missing passport to the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office can give you their contact details. You will also have to fill in a lost and stolen declaration form (LSO1).
If your passport was lost or stolen in the UK, you must report this to IPS. All cases of theft must also be reported to your local police station. You must insert the crime reference details in the relevant section of the declaration of loss/theft form (LS01), which you will need to complete and return to IPS.
In either case IPS recommends that you apply for a replacement passport as soon as possible, from IPS in the UK or from a British embassy, consulate or high commission overseas.
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