Written question asked by Madeleine Moon (Labour) on Friday, 13 April 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 April 2012. It was answered by Damian Green (Conservative) on Thursday, 19 April 2012 on behalf of the Home Office.

Passports

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many passports confiscated by nightclub security staff were returned to the Identity and Passport Service by police forces in England and Wales in each of the last two years; and if she will make a statement;

Answer: In 2010, almost 55,000 passports were returned to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) and in 2011 approximately 60,000. Information is not collected centrally on the reasons for the return of the passport or the source from which these passports are returned. All passports returned to the IPS by a third party are automatically cancelled for security reasons. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 sets out police powers to seize and retain material considered as evidence of an offence.

Secondary information