Written interview with Sophia Nunn, Counter Fraud Officer, HM Passport Office London Counter Fraud Team.
In December, the Identity Week team visited His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) in London and were given a guided tour of each step it takes to develop and issue our world class national document. We met with document examiners, printing experts, quality assurance and counter fraud teams who are doing a fantastic job to ensure security and authenticity with the utmost care.
Explain the processes of assessing fraudulent documents and the document holder’s identity to understand whether or not a fraudulent crime is being committed?
A British passport will not be issued until all checks upon the applicant’s nationality, identity, and eligibility have been satisfactorily completed. Our Counter Fraud Team are highly-skilled in assessing the applicants’ documents, identity, and any fraudulent activity they may or may not be committing. We approach with an open mind and go on the context and evidence. Countering attempted passport fraud is the responsibility of all of our staff, not just those in the Counter Fraud Team. Which is why each member of the team that handles passport applications and supporting documents are fully trained to spot initial signs of possible fraud within a passport application or the documents that are put in front of them. Where there are any concerns about a document, we have access to a range of checks to confirm its authenticity. This includes systems that are specifically designed to counteract newer technologies that can enable fraud, such as tampering with the use of artificial intelligence.
How do front-line systems such as DAP speak directly to the Counter Fraud department?
Our digital systems mean that we have immediate access to all the relevant case-working information, including high quality scans of the supporting documents. If the document needs more interrogation and we need to look at the physical item, we will retrieve this from its secure storage.
Can a rejected application affect the applicant in the future?
Holding a passport opens doors to travel, to employment, to verifying identity for access to public services and financial services, and we endeavour to make getting a British passport as quick and simple as possible, providing that you are eligible. If one application is unsuccessful, it does not mean there is prejudice towards any future applications. Circumstances change, and if you can satisfy our nationality, identity, and eligibility checks, then we will be able to issue a passport.
Are effective identity practices implemented right across government?
HM Passport Office certainly plays its part in this, and we share information with other government departments to help them to fulfil their objectives when it is legal to do so.
What advice do you give to the public about the best ways they can protect their identities and spot the signs of fraud?
From the perspective of countering passport fraud, the key message is to keep your identity documents secure. If your passport is lost or stolen, make sure to let us know as soon as possible so that we can cancel it and help prevent any chance of it being misused.
What’s your 5-year strategy to tackle serious fraud? Our strategy is to embrace technology keeping up with fraud trends, for example artificial intelligence (AI), and expand our understanding of how AI can also empower the attacker.
While we are not a law enforcement agency, we work with the police and others to help ensure that people who commit passport fraud will face the full consequences of the law. Our strategy rests on evolving our systems and processes to continue to improve our efforts to prevent and detect passport fraud, which will continue to include the routine redesign of the passport itself to help keep ahead of any criminals who make seek to forge or fake it.
Can you explain about the pilot programme you participated in this summer with the College of Policing?
Thirteen of our Counter Fraud Officers participated in a pilot course by police trainers that uses storytelling to contextualise their encounters with fraud offences. There were a number of classes, including ‘applying investigative mindsets’ which demonstrated the synergies and differences between policing and investigations relating to passport applications.
How has technology, existing with physical checks, transformed operations across HM Passport Office?
The way our systems have evolved better allow us to allocate greater resource to the highest threats.
Do you comply with privacy legislation?
We comply with the General Data Protection Regulations on protection of personal data, and you can find our Privacy Information Notice online at GOV.UK.
