House of Lords written question – answered at on 10 November 2008.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 28 October (HL5449), how many of the 216,581 applicants interviewed by passport personal interview officers from 31 July 2007 to 31 July 2008 were refused a United Kingdom passport.
Identity interviews were added to the passport process mainly to deter fraud by increasing the difficulties for impostors seeking to obtain passports in other people's identities. The interviews therefore also act as a protection for British citizens against one form of identity theft. Extensive checks are carried out prior to interview and in a number of cases this will uncover issues which will mean that the passport application is withdrawn or refused. At the present time, no applicants have been refused a passport as a result of an interview at a passport interview office.
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