Passport Office orders staff to relax application checks to help clear backlog

Home Office deploys 100 extra staff and changes policy for applicants overseas, as critics warn of ID theft risk

The Passport Office has ordered its staff to relax checks on applicants for British passports from abroad in an effort to reduce a backlog of at least 30,000, leaked internal documents reveal.

A briefing note sent to staff on Monday, passed to the Guardian, allows Passport Office workers to drop checks on countersignatories, as well as requirements for evidence of addresses and letters of confirmation from employers and accountants.

The beleaguered Passport Office was on Wednesday given 100 more staff by the Home Office in an effort to clear its backlog of applications, which are causing people to delay or miss holidays unless they pay £55 to have their cases fast-tracked.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/11/passport-office-relaxes-application-checks-overseas-home-office

The extra staff were workers from the UK Border Agency so I expect they are short now as well. So much for this lot securing our borders.

What a bunch of chancers this lot are

Grandaughter is on tenderhooks, just applied for her first passport as her Dad is taking her and her sister to Disney in Paris in August and she has just applied. Been telling her since Jan to get it done!

That aside, it's a mess, if they have taken people off the UK Border Agency they should be flippin shot.

Leftie bullshit story from start to finish.



There has been a major flood of applications.



300,000 more than usual, staff are working 7 days a week to clear plus additional staff have been put in place.



There is no govt order to relax anything for anyone.





Guardian based propaganda, part of an organised smear campaign.



More lefties lies and spin.



After labour presided over the biggest influx of immigrants ever in The history of This country while denying it, and shouting anyone down as a racist for daring to mention it.




Dirty tricks, lies and spin is all they know.....

A briefing note sent to staff on Monday, passed to the Guardian, allows Passport Office workers to drop checks on countersignatories, as well as requirements for evidence of addresses and letters of confirmation from employers and accountants

Pass Tommy the bucket of sand to stick his head in.

A note passed to The guardian........



Ok.




This story started as one person who waited a bit longer than 4 weeks for their passport.



Fact is there has been 300,000 more than usual applications.



Extra staff are in place and others working 7 days to clear.



There has been no govt order to relax anything for anyone.




Guardian media orchestrated shit storm.



Maybe there are no labour MPs in court this week.....

Tommy Monk wrote:A note passed to The guardian........



Ok.




This story started as one person who waited a bit longer than 4 weeks for their passport.



Fact is there has been 300,000 more than usual applications.



Extra staff are in place and others working 7 days to clear.



There has been no govt order to relax anything for anyone.




Guardian media orchestrated shit storm.



Maybe there are no labour MPs in court this week.....

You should have read all of the article instead of just grabbing the headlines...

Look.... http://www.theguardian.com/politics/interactive/2014/jun/11/passport-office-briefing-document

And it was even in the Daily Mail...

David Cameron reveals scale of passport crisis hitting family holiday plans

But Theresa May insists there is no passport crisis despite record backlog

She says measures are in place to cope with record passport surge

But leaked note reveals bid to move 100 Home Office staff to Passport Office

Staff at UK Visas and Immigration will move to tackle passport backlog

Home Office has already re-deployed 250 back office staff to frontline

Comes after pictures reveals extraordinary backlog of applications

Image released by whistleblower hours after May rubbished backlog fears

Officials telling families to fast-track applications for £55.50 on top of £72 fee

Extra cost for a family of four would amount to £222

But MPs say there is a 'backlog of half a million cases' with growing delays

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2655033/Panicked-Home-Secretary-drafts-hundreds-emergency-staff-clear-passport-backlog-says-no-crisis.html#ixzz34PO8wllX


And where is this equal venom that you have for both Labour and the Tories? You're a fraud Tommy but I like you because You're just a gift that keeps on giving.

This is great news for our travel industry and a clear indication that the economy is picking up.

The good days are back   

BigAndy9 wrote:This is great news for our travel industry and a clear indication that the economy is picking up.

The good days are back     

Makes it much easier to come and go Andy. Why bother paying thousands for an illegal one when you could probably get a real good one from the passport office for just a few bob.

Way to go   

Ministers intervene to prevent relaxation of checks at Passport Office
Exclusive Ministers force U-turn by officials and order relaxation to be withdrawn after Guardian revelations



Ministers were forced to intervene in the working of the chaotic Passport Office after the Guardian revealed that managers had ordered staff to relax security checks on applicants for British passports from abroad in an effort to reduce a backlog of at least 30,000 applications.

A briefing note sent to staff on Monday told Passport Office workers to drop checks on countersignatories, as well as requirements for evidence of addresses and letters of confirmation from employers and accountants.

An hour after the leaked document was published on the Guardian's website on Wednesday night, the Home Office issued a terse statement saying that ministers had no knowledge of the instructions and had ordered managers at the Passport Office to withdraw it immediately.

The intervention will be an acute embarrassment to the home secretary, Theresa May, who has until now tried to maintain that she has been on top of the situation within the Passport Office.

On Wednesday, David Cameron blamed the confusion on the fact that the Passport Office was facing 300,000 more applications than usual and told the Commons: "The Home Office has been on this from the very start."

The developments will also increase pressure on Paul Pugh, the interim head of the Office, who has until now maintained that there is no "backlog" of cases.

The Passport Office was on Wednesday given 100 more staff by the Home Office in an effort to clear its backlog of applications, which are causing people to delay or miss holidays unless they pay £55 to have their cases fast-tracked.

But the briefing note revealed that behind the scenes, processes are also being transformed to cut the delays. It says the changes are required to achieve the right balance between "customer service, public protection and organisational requirements", and that "these changes are being published now in light of the need to speed up turnaround times".

The briefing note, written by the Passport Office's policy team and entitled Overseas Policy and Procedure Changes, begins by listing a number of policy changes and informs staff that they can now relax checks if an applicant from abroad asks for a passport to be sent to an alternative address.

In these cases, evidence of a link to that address will no longer be mandatory and the applicant will no longer have to sign a disclaimer form. The document states: "It has been agreed that, where an applicant provides an alternative address, a separate 'disclaimer' and evidence of a link to that address will no longer be mandatory if there are no other concerns or fraud indicators."

Staff sources claim the change could aid a fraudster who has applied for a document. Checks on countersignatories – a person of good standing or in a recognised profession who vouches for an applicant – have also been relaxed. The note says that a photocopy or scan of national ID cards from many European countries or Hong Kong will now be allowed as proof of a countersignatory's identity.

"On a discretionary basis, a photocopy or emailed scan of a countersignatory's current valid national identity card can be accepted instead of a passport copy, if the card is issued from one of the countries listed below to one of their nationals," the document says.

According to the note, if an applicant is seeking a second passport – which many frequent flyers use so that they can travel on one document whilst applying for entry with another – staff no longer need to seek a letter confirming their status from an employer or accountant.

"For an application for a first additional passport where the applicant has provided their passport, the examiner can use their discretion to not seek a letter of confirmation from an employer where other information indicates that the applicant is eligible for an additional passport," it says.

Previously, the Passport Office has strictly enforced a requirement for a letter of confirmation from an employer or accountant. Sources say the change raises the possibility of identity theft because it could allow a fraudster who has stolen a UK passport to apply for a second.

Speaking before ministers intervened, Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said the briefing showed the government was in denial about the state of the crisis and had been reduced to scaling back vital checks. "This is seriously chaotic … If this is what the prime minister meant by getting a grip on the situation, he needs to think again," she said. Mark Serwotka, head of the PCS union, which represents many Passport Office staff, said: "The Home Office now has some very serious questions to answer about whether security is being compromised and whether passports could be more easily obtained by criminals."

The Home Office last year cut several passport offices within foreign embassies at an annual saving of £20m and moved work to centres in Liverpool, Durham and Belfast. The decision was also intended to boost security, as it was considered too risky to send blank passport books abroad.

Downing Street confirmed that hundreds of extra staff had been deployed to deal with the backlog and offices would open seven days a week from 7am until midnight, after leaked photographs showed boxes of applications piling up in temporary storage in the Liverpool office.

Last week the Guardian disclosed that a quarter of staff employed to detect fraud, as well as others who usually interview suspect applicants, had been asked to process the delayed applications.

Ed Miliband told the Commons on Wednesday that the problem had been caused by cuts and a failure by May to keep watch as she was bickering with the education secretary, Michael Gove. "Tens of thousands of people are finding their holidays are being cancelled because they are not actually getting a passport," he said.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Ministers were unaware of this document and have instructed Her Majesty's Passport Office to withdraw it immediately."

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/12/ministers-intervene-to-prevent-relaxation-of-rules-in-passport-office

Fancy that Tommy, appears you were completely wrong. Well I never did, fancy that!

How am I wrong?


Managers at the independent passport office made the order, not the govt.


The govt told them to withdraw it as soon as they were aware of it.


They have had the biggest load of applications in 12 years.


Extra staff and offices are being used and other staff working 7 days to clear.




Do you really think the lefties guardian is really going to be telling the whole unbiased truth about anything ...????


Seriously...???

But  you said earlier in the thread that the story was bullshit from start to finish Monkey brain.
Now it seems it is true and May has overruled the local edict.
Make up your mind ffs.
Of course the debacle has nothing to do with the 700 loyal hard working staff that May made redundant.
She did that at Heathrow 2 years ago by sacking 1000, realised her error, then remployed the same people on a higher pay.
You cannot make it up.
The words Theresa May and unfit for office spring to mind.
Policy on the hoof, and a knee jerk reaction to the crisis of her own making.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27806441

So there is the highest demand for passport applications in 12 years.


And there's A bit of a backlog and delay.



That is all there is.



Nothing amazing really.



Guardian has jumped on it and is whirring it up into a frenzy.



And you lefties are instantly frothing at the mouth with ridiculous rubbish.

Nothing amazing, but enough to involve Dave and seriously embarrass May.
If this had happened on Labour's watch, you nasties would be all over it like a rash.

It as all Germany's fault.

They no longer print any of our passports.  Didn't know this but it was radio 2 at lunch

This is a simple story of sudden huge demand and A subsequent bit of a backlog and slight delay in passport issue.




Whipped up into a shit storm by the leftie media and lapped up by you brain dead labour monkeys.....




Extra staff have been appointed and office space used to clear this.



No big deal.



The same sudden high demand would have the same result who ever was in govt.



Maybe part of This high demand is down to all The foreigners labour let in who have just now qualified for British passport and applying in huge numbers.

Can you immagine the shit storm that would ensue if this happened to firearms licensing    

If you knew you were going abroad this year ,would you not apply for your Passport some months before it expired and not leave it to the last minute?

nicko wrote:If you knew you were going abroad this year ,would you not apply for your Passport some months before it expired and not leave it to the last minute?

Oh dear, somebody talking common sense when everybody else desperately wanted to make it political.

Damn right nicko.


Or you can go to the passport office and get a same day one I think if you need it that quickly.

Irn Bru wrote:Home Office deploys 100 extra staff and changes policy for applicants overseas, as critics warn of ID theft risk

The Passport Office has ordered its staff to relax checks on applicants for British passports from abroad in an effort to reduce a backlog of at least 30,000, leaked internal documents reveal.

A briefing note sent to staff on Monday, passed to the Guardian, allows Passport Office workers to drop checks on countersignatories, as well as requirements for evidence of addresses and letters of confirmation from employers and accountants.

The beleaguered Passport Office was on Wednesday given 100 more staff by the Home Office in an effort to clear its backlog of applications, which are causing people to delay or miss holidays unless they pay £55 to have their cases fast-tracked.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/11/passport-office-relaxes-application-checks-overseas-home-office

The extra staff were workers from the UK Border Agency so I expect they are short now as well. So much for this lot securing our borders.

What a bunch of chancers this lot are

Are you not aware Irn Bru that increase in applications is much more than normal. Now I know you lefties will do as the TUs tell yo and staff full time for peak loads so that staff can sit around for months at a time.

The fact is the recovery has induced many to travel abroad again that's simply the case. Really the Trade unions would be running this contry if Red Ed gets in they will be running it for themselves not for us.

There are also a lot of cheap decks at the moment to some places...... many next door to war zones.....

ommy this is the only thing the lefties can hang their hat on. The recovery is so good people are flocking abroad again so at the behest of the Public sector unions they can have a pop.

Be clear if Ed gets in the Trade unions will be running the country for the benefit of public sector workers certainly not us.

Fred wrote:

Irn Bru wrote:Home Office deploys 100 extra staff and changes policy for applicants overseas, as critics warn of ID theft risk

The Passport Office has ordered its staff to relax checks on applicants for British passports from abroad in an effort to reduce a backlog of at least 30,000, leaked internal documents reveal.

A briefing note sent to staff on Monday, passed to the Guardian, allows Passport Office workers to drop checks on countersignatories, as well as requirements for evidence of addresses and letters of confirmation from employers and accountants.

The beleaguered Passport Office was on Wednesday given 100 more staff by the Home Office in an effort to clear its backlog of applications, which are causing people to delay or miss holidays unless they pay £55 to have their cases fast-tracked.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/11/passport-office-relaxes-application-checks-overseas-home-office

The extra staff were workers from the UK Border Agency so I expect they are short now as well. So much for this lot securing our borders.

What a bunch of chancers this lot are

Are you not aware Irn Bru that increase in applications is much more than normal. Now I know you lefties will do as the TUs tell yo and staff full time for peak loads so that staff can sit around for months at a time.

The fact is the recovery has induced many to travel abroad again that's simply the case. Really the Trade unions would be running this contry if Red Ed gets in they will be running it for themselves not for us.

Turns out the Home Office were warned about this months ago and did nowt. Now the UK Border Agency has been raided to bring staff to help clear the backlog so I expect they'll be short there.

Shocking

gerber wrote:
It as all Germany's fault.

They no longer print any of our passports.  Didn't know this but it was radio 2 at lunch

  

JUST don't mention the War !

Fred wrote:ommy this is the only thing the lefties can hang their hat on. The recovery is so good people are flocking abroad again so at the behest of the Public sector unions they can have a pop.
Be clear if Ed gets in the Trade unions will be running the country for the benefit of public sector workers certainly not us.

Yes, good point.



People feeling a bit more cash, thinking of having a holiday.



It's probably true that renewing a passport over the last few years for a lot of people was pointless and a waste of another £80 quid they couldn't afford, or whatever it cost, as they couldn't afford the holiday anyway.


But now, feeling a bit better off, cheap deals available, thinking of having a holiday probably for the first time in years after the mess labour left us all in.


This has led to a rush of applications, about 300,000 more than usual have been made in fact.



Another part of the labour legacy......

Tommy Monk wrote:

Fred wrote:ommy this is the only thing the lefties can hang their hat on. The recovery is so good people are flocking abroad again so at the behest of the Public sector unions they can have a pop.
Be clear if Ed gets in the Trade unions will be running the country for the benefit of public sector workers certainly not us.

Yes, good point.



People feeling a bit more cash, thinking of having a holiday.



It's probably true that renewing a passport over the last few years for a lot of people was pointless and a waste of another £80 quid they couldn't afford, or whatever it cost, as they couldn't afford the holiday anyway.


But now, feeling a bit better off, cheap deals available, thinking of having a holiday probably for the first time in years after the mess labour left us all in.


This has led to a rush of applications, about 300,000 more than usual have been made in fact.



Another part of the labour legacy......

 Making the most of a good feel factor before Red Ed and Ed put a stop to it all next year

As they were told this would happen nearly a year ago because of passport office closures in other parts of the world (Brits who live abroad have to renew their passports and add babies etc) they have been particularly incompetent. Add to that the fact that border control people are being offered overtime to help, and they will wonder why some nasties slip through the net.

Useless bunch.

Sassy wrote:As they were told this would happen nearly a year ago because of passport office closures in other parts of the world (Brits who live abroad have to renew their passports and add babies etc) they have been particularly incompetent.   Add to that the fact that border control people are being offered overtime to help, and they will wonder why some nasties slip through the net.

Useless bunch.

Agreed.

Except that there has been an rush of 300,000 more applications then usual...... something you are conveniently forgetting..... or not seeing because of your denial complex....

Hey there Tommy Boy, I noticed you never said anything about this news:

http://www.newsfixboard.com/t5259-passport-surge-theresa-may-warned-a-year-ago

Will this be another question that you could answer but won't?   

Tommy Monk wrote:Except that there has been an rush of 300,000 more applications then usual...... something you are conveniently forgetting..... or not seeing because of your denial complex....

Confused .comgerber.

Q Who is in denial....................

The excesss numbers of applications have been accepted.

 The actual working methods of the agency and the lack of competence also agreed.....

My post was to Sassy...

Tha's me told then

gerber wrote:Tha's me told then

Lol, being told by Tommy is something of water of a duck's back love. He'd already been told that May was informed that the 'surge' was going to happen a year ago because of passport office closures abroad, but he will keep on muttering for the next ten weeks. Take not notice, no-one else does lol

And Ben....
"...People applying to renew passports overseas for travel to the UK would be given an automatic 12-month extension.
And those applying for passports overseas for their children would also be issued with emergency travel documents for travel to the UK - although they will still have to provide "comprehensive proof" that they are the parents..."
Why would anyone be applying to renew or for new passport from UK in last few years if no chance of going on holiday???
However people now who have a few more quid will be wanting to go away and would be trying to get passport sorted if needed.
Do you really think that closures abroad a year ago have only just started to make an impact here now...???
There have been 300,000 more applications than usual.
This usual will be what has been coming in every monti over the last few months.

Which they were told would happen a year ago:

Passport Surge: Theresa May Warned A Year Ago
As London interviews for first-time passport applicants are halted, a report emerges that warned of an extra 350,000 applications.

Theresa May was warned a year ago the closure of overseas passport offices would lead to 350,000 extra applications, it has emerged.

It comes as a huge surge of requests for passports was blamed for a significant backlog, prompting the Home Secretary to bring in a series of measures aimed at tackling delays.

Mrs May said the hold-ups, affecting holidaymakers and business travellers had been caused by the highest demand seen for more than a decade, and agreed it was an "unprecedented increase...which no one could have foreseen".

But in a report published in July last year, Paul Pugh, the head of the Identity and Passport Service, predicted there would be around an extra 350,000 applications to UK offices as a result of overseas embassies closing their passport desks and relocating operations back to Britain in a £20m cost-cutting move.

In an emergency Commons statement on Monday, Mrs May said the passport office was receiving "350,000 more applications for passport applications and renewals" than normal for this time of year.

Mrs May also indicated the increase was due in part to the "improved economic environment".

She insisted the Government was doing all it could to deal with the backlog of more than 30,000 applications which had not been dealt with within the normal three-week deadline.

In a sign of the continuing crisis, interviews for first-time applicants for passports have been suspended in London, with people directed to other offices in the region.
General Views Of Government Ministries Around Westminster The Home Office insists the two figures are completely separate

With anger mounting over the delays, Mrs May announced a series of measures aimed at tackling he problem.

Urgent applications will be fast-tracked for free, and an extra 200 staff would be drafted in to deal with applications.

People applying to renew passports overseas for travel to the UK would be given an automatic 12-month extension.

And those applying for passports overseas for their children would also be issued with emergency travel documents for travel to the UK - although they will still have to provide "comprehensive proof" that they are the parents.

Mrs May admitted there was no "big bang, single solution" to the crisis.

But her Labour opposite number accused Mrs May of presiding over a "sorry shambles" and called on her to apologise to the thousands of people whose travel plans had been thrown into doubt.

The Home Office says the 350,000 mentioned in the IPS report and those quoted by Mrs May are two different sets of figures.

The forecast figure was also for the full year, while the extra applications mentioned by the Home Secretary covered the period January to May.

http://news.sky.com/story/1281596/passport-surge-theresa-may-warned-a-year-ago

Do you really think a few closures abroad a year ago would only start to make an impact now...???



Not the monti after the closures, or 3 months, or 6 months after.....???




Fact is it is ONLY the last monti that there has been a unprecedented surge in applications by about 300,000 extra more than usual every monti.

Fact, May was told a year ago that there would be this number of extra applications. Monumental fail when nothing was done about it and border staff have to be brought in.

It's like arguing with a tree. Tommy just waves his arms and makes a few meaningless noises. The entire world except Tommy knows May was warned a year ago, but he will spin, deflect and deny until the end of time.

I've definitely noticed HA lol

You Are stupid if you think any closures would only have an impact a year later.
There will be applications every month.
Last month there were 300,000 more than usual.
What do you think has happened every other month for last year?
Everything was running smoothly.
So why the extra 300,000 applications?
And why is it govt fault that there has been this unprecedented influx of applications???
Some closures a year ago would affect the numbers of applications every monti after wouldn't it???
Not just start a whole year later???

You are stupid to think that she was told how big the surge would be, and it was, and you still deny it.

Ahh, look at Tommy stoutly defending his sexual fantasy and political love goddess Theresa. The vacuous old harriden needs the rough end of a pineapple rammed up her jacksie, the best she can expect is a nauseating pile sycophantic drivel off her 'umble serf Tom.

So why was it only a year after any closures when there was this unprecedented surge in applications....???




Why not any of the other 11 months???



Maybe because that has little or nothing to do with it, and It is just because of a sudden fresh surge of applications.



Fact is, all applications have been running smoothly for a year after any closures, only now when we have had an unprecedented 300,000 surge of extra applications has there been a problem.



Don't let the truth get in the way of a good bit of bullshit and leftie propaganda......

My gawd you are a boring old fart.   They were told about a surge that would happen, it happened, they had done nothing.   Incompetent idiots.

But in a report published in July last year, Paul Pugh, the head of the Identity and Passport Service, predicted there would be around an extra 350,000 applications to UK offices as a result of overseas embassies closing their passport desks and relocating operations back to Britain in a £20m cost-cutting move.

You idiot.


IF you stub your toe on a Monday, will it not hurt until Sunday?




The closures happened a year ago and only affected a relatively small number of applications.



There was no problem for 11 months after these closures.



The problem only started with an unprecedented EXTRA surge of 300,000 applications.



Nothing to do with the closures.



I know you don't want to accept the facts, as it puts an end to your little game of govt bashing bullshit.

How does Tom NOT get it?
May was warned a year ago that the closures would result jn an extra 300,000 applications in the following year.
That prediction as spot on.
What did May do to address the problem? Fuck all.
Until it became a national scandal and Dave intervened and told her to employ extra staff to replace the 900 she made redundant.
As it simply isn't possible to recruit, security vet and train the required number of staff in the required time, she has plucked them from an already understaffed, overworked and hugely pressured Border Agency, trying valiantly to stem illegal immigration.
Admit it Tom, it has happened on May's watch and has nowt to do with Milliband.
Significantly, even the Tory rw press are pitching against May; she certainly looks like a vote loser for Dave at the moment, and she is rapidly losing support around the cabinet; as she is so vehemently against Dave ,Gideon and gormless Gove.

It is you who still doesn't get it.



The closures happened a year ago and only affected a relatively small number of applications.



Everything carried on running smoothly every month, month after month, until last month when there was an unprecedented surge of applications.



This SUDDEN surge of EXTRA applications has caused a backlog which has had measures implemented to clear.


Fact is people have got a bit more money now because of the improvement of economy and many have decided to go on holiday also taking advantage of the many cheap deals available at the moment.

This has caused the surge in applications.

::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: ::smthg:: 

You carry on Tommy, we need a good laugh!

You lefties don't like the truth....