Post by maura on Mar 16, 2007 15:48:24 GMT -1
90% OF PEOPLE DO NOT KEEP THEIR PASSPORTS IN A SAFE PLACE
Most people know the importance of taking good care of their passports when traveling abroad. But back home it's a very different picture.
A new study carried out by the Identity and Passport Service reveals that a whopping nine out of ten of us fail to keep our passports in a safe place when at home.
When it comes to taking steps to protect our passports it seems that most people are more concerned about looking after their mobile phones and iPods.
Now the boss of the Passport Service is urging the public to take better care of their passports - both at home and abroad.
Last year 290,000 British passports were reported stolen or lost. Bernard Herdan from the Passport Service says: 'Passports are increasingly attractive documents to organized criminals: hijacking someone else's identity can help facilitate a wide range of even more serious crimes.'
If your passport is lost or stolen in the UK, you must report this to the Identity and Passport Service. 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 the IPS.
If you are planning a spring break soon, here are some passport tips from the experts:
Take two photocopies of your passport before your holiday. Leave one with a relative or friend, and take the other with you, keeping the copy separate from the original.
Keep your passport with you when traveling to your destination. Keep it in your hand luggage or in a zipped pocket. Know where it is at all times so that it can be produced promptly when asked for.
Think carefully about where you keep your passport once you arrive. Think about what might be the safest option according to your surroundings.
ยท
Be wary if ever you are asked to surrender your passport. While some foreign officials may ask for your passport, as may some hotels, check with your travel operator or the British consulate whether or not this is standard procedure.
Should your passport be stolen or lost while abroad, report it to the local police and get in touch with the nearest British consulate or embassy for further advice. The British Consul can issue an emergency passport if necessary.