(Guardian) News has emerged that the British Passport Office has started carrying out extra checks on passport applications from ethnic minorities. The reason for the policy, according to Passport Office staff, is to concentrate investigative resources on suspect areas as managers struggle to clear this year's backlog. The Home Office declined to explain in detail how the 100 postcodes had been chosen, although it said procedures had been "subject to a full equality impact assessment", and this remained under review.
Meanwhile, politicians from both sides of the political divide have complained: Labour are complaining that ts is pure discrimination, while the Tories are saying that white people in these areas are being unfairly picked on.
Meanwhile, politicians from both sides of the political divide have complained: Labour are complaining that ts is pure discrimination, while the Tories are saying that white people in these areas are being unfairly picked on.
