LARGE parts of Bradford have been included in a controversial list of 'suspect' areas for passport fraud, it has been revealed

As a consequence people living in three postcodes in the city face even longer delays for passport applications because they are targeted for extra fraud checks.

The three postcodes on the 100-strong watch list drawn up by the Passport Office are BD3, BD9 and BD14.

Bradford East MP David Ward, whose constituency includes much of BD3, said his office was probably the busiest in the country for complaints about passport delays with residents being "short changed" after paying for an expensive service.

The passport delays debacle is a long-running issue and affects many of those making applications for new or renewed passports.

At present 360,000 people are affected nationally, though Mr Ward (Lib Dem) said his constituency was badly hit by the problem.

"My constituency office probably deals with more passport issues than any other in the country," he said.

"It is a constant nightmare. A huge amount of time is wasted in chasing up late passports. We do our best for people, but what are supposed to be guidelines are just a joke.

"Even additional scrutiny should not result in the amount of time taken. It is gross inefficiency."

Bradford Councillor Sinead Engel (Lab, Clayton and Fairweather Green) said: "It is hard to imagine why the would pick on Clayton. I would be curious as to whether the extra scrutiny has turned anything up to justify it."

The BD3 postcode covers Barkerend, Bradford Moor, Thornbury, Eastbrook, Pollard Park and parts of Laisterdyke, Undercliffe and Wapping.

BD9 takes in Frizinghall, Heaton, Daisy Hill, Haworth Road Estate, Chellow Heights and Chellow Grange, while residents of Clayton are in BD14.

The policy has been revealed in a document, entitled ‘Confirming Identity Examiner Processes’, drawn up to help staff checking applications for new passports.

Anyone on the list of 100 postcodes faces “additional checking”, including attempts to contact the counter signatory - the person who confirms a child’s application is true and accurate.

Some passport fraud involves taking on the identity of a dead person to make an application, using fake birth certificates or stolen and altered passports.

Offenders wishing to conceal their identity include people trying to enter the UK illegally, avoid deportation, commit financial crimes or get involved in drug or people trafficking.

The policy has emerged as the Home Affairs Committee, in a blistering report, criticised the Passport Office for a “summer of chaos” - with 550,000 passport applications outstanding at one stage.

More than 40 of the postcodes are in London, with others in Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds and Brighton, as well as Bradford.

And the policy has also drawn fire for catching people not suspected of wrongdoing in a wide net – and for focusing on areas with a large ethnic minority population.

One senior MP – former Conservative shadow home secretary David Davis – has attacked the policy as “lazy thinking to save money”.

Mr Davis said: “This sounds like a deliberate postcode lottery. Doubtless there are an awful lot of non-fraudsters living in those areas whose service should not be altered by this policy.”

And Mark Serwotka, leader of the PCS union which represents Passport Office staff, condemned a “potentially discriminating postcode system” – targeting ethnic minorities, in many cases.

He added: “The Passport Office should agree to sit down with us to talk about the resources they need to provide a full and proper service.”

A Passport Office spokesman said: “Detecting fraudulent applications protects the public and, in the case of child passports, safeguards children.

“All applications are subject to a number of security checks. Procedures have been subject to a full equality impact assessment prior to introduction but remain under review.”