Written question asked by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Thursday, 28 January 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 February 2010. It was answered by Alan Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 April 2010 on behalf of the Home Office.

Identity Cards: Greater Manchester

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means police in Greater Manchester are able to verify that an identity card is valid.

Answer: We expect a number of checks will be based on visual verification of the card. We have provided detailed guidance on the security features that can be checked to ensure an identity card is genuine. Also, the police can request that the Identity and Passport Service check the validity of an identity card against the National Identity Register for prescribed purposes set out in legislation. These are for the prevention and detection of crime, national security, or to help identify a victim of an event which has caused loss of life or injury.

Secondary information