Police won't return a lost passport

chameleon

chameleon

chameleon

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Edinburgh
Daughter lost her purse on a night out. Only realised next morning. She reported it to the police who told her it had been handed in ( there are still SOME honest people out there) So she went to collect it. Everything was there, cards, rail pass etc, including her passport which she uses as proof of age for getting into clubs.
The police told her they couldn't return her passport as it may have been tampered with? I've never heard of this before, she had to go through to Glasgow and pay £103 for a new one.
Anyone else heard of this? I don't understand why they would return everything else but not her passport? It is obviously her passport.
 
A google search seems to reveal that this has happened to other people who have had passports handed in at Police stations.

It would seem its because the passport could have been tampered with or copied and somebody may steal your identity. The Government's own passport website says that you must report it if your passport has been lost or stolen.
 
This is true, lost passports cannot be returned. This is not just the police, its supposed to be the case anywhere, to prevent identity theft and fraud and things like that.
 
This is why you should never carry a passport around with you as proof of age. Get a proof of age card, or better still (unless there is some reason why you cannot have one) a photocard driving licence.

Sorry to hear though!
 
AJK said:
This is why you should never carry a passport around with you as proof of age. Get a proof of age card, or better still (unless there is some reason why you cannot have one) a photocard driving licence.

Sorry to hear though!
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This.

Passport is a terrible idea for generic proof of age. Photocard driving license (provisional) all the way.
 
I understand the policy, but I'm sure it doesn't hurt that people they have to pay a fair chunk of change for a new passport!
 
httk said:
I understand the policy, but I'm sure it doesn't hurt that people they have to pay a fair chunk of change for a new passport!
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But that's why as people have pointed out, you need to take good care of your passport, its your primary source of identification as a citizen of this country.

Using it as a form of ID while inebriated is not the best way of going about things. Use something else in future.
 
Don't bother with any of the proof of age cards either, a fair percentage of venues won't accept them and only accept passports and driving licences.
 
Wow i never knew that. I carry my Passport around a fair bit... Force of habit worked abroad lots.

Consider this my wake up call.
 
Keeping something on you with a full address on is a bad idea as it has been known for people to lose their wallet/purse or have it stolen and then someone screwing the house over as they know there is a greater chance that the house may be unoccupied.

More so with women when they have their driving licence and door keys in their purse/handbag that goes missing on a night out.
 
Bit of a catch 22 really. many places will only accept a government document as proof of age, and these have your address etc on it. Ill suggest to her that a provisional driving licence might be a better idea.
 
Efour said:
Wow i never knew that. I carry my Passport around a fair bit... Force of habit worked abroad lots.
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Government advice has always been to lock your passport somewhere safe, such as a hotel safe while abroad.

Of course thats a little different if travelling about or are in some 3rd world hell hole where you might need to whip out your passport to save your bacon.

I personally have never carried my passport about with me all the time when abroad. Always lock it away or hide it away where I'm staying.
 
A friend left their passport at the airport recently, rang the airport and they said it had been handed in.

two options they gave were he comes and collects it from them or they send it to the police station and they destroy it.
 
If i found your daughters purse, i would first note down card details, then i would try to hand it back, so she does not cancel the cards, so they are still active.

So cancel all cards and have new ones posted!

Every few months i call the bank and say i've lost my card, incase someone has attempted to **** me.
 
AJK said:
This is why you should never carry a passport around with you as proof of age. Get a proof of age card, or better still (unless there is some reason why you cannot have one) a photocard driving licence.
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What about if you're too partially sighted to drive? That's the case for me, so I have to carry a passport. Plus, I think the proof-of-age card is only for U25's.

chameleon said:
The police told her they couldn't return her passport as it may have been tampered with? I've never heard of this before, she had to go through to Glasgow and pay £103 for a new one.
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Why £103 for a new one? I renewed mine last year and I paid £72 for a 10-year.
 
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