Mr Alex Skene

Email: [FOI #67 email]

Our reference: FOICR 9464/08

16 June 2008

Dear Mr Skene,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your email of 16 May, in response to ours of 14 May, concerning your request for information on biometric photograph standards.

I am writing to advise you that although we are able to confirm that we hold the information in which you are interested, we are unable to provide you with it.

Provision of electronic version of Post Office photo templates

After careful consideration it has been determined that the information which you requested is exempt from disclosure by virtue of Section 43 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act. This covers the ability or likelihood to prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).

On the one hand the release of this information would allow individuals to understand decisions made by public authorities affecting their lives and, in some cases assist individuals in challenging those decisions. The release would also facilitate the accountability and transparency of public authorities for decisions taken by them.

On the other hand, there is a current version of the template in use today by the Post Office which will change shortly. A new version of the template is currently undergoing usability trials and its design is still subject to change. Until IPS has decided on the final format and it is approved for use, it is subject to exemption on commercial interest grounds as we need to be fair and ensure that commercial organisations receive the correct format at the same time. Our earlier letter explained that it will be made available via our website when its design is finalised. If you are affiliated to a photographic industry association you may well receive it directly.

Provision of technical specifications for photo measurements

After careful consideration it has been determined that the information which you requested is exempt from disclosure by virtue of Section 31(1) of the Freedom of Information Act. This covers information the disclosure of which would be likely to prejudice (amongst other things) the prevention or detection of crime and the operation of the immigration controls.

In applying the exemption, we have had to balance the public interest in withholding the information against the public interest in disclosing it.

On the one hand, there is a general public interest in disclosure of information in the interests of openness and public awareness of the means by which IPS helps to protect identities.

On the other hand, disclosure of any one of the security features of passports would, if the information fell into the wrong hands, provide criminals with guidance on the features they need to defeat in order to commit identity fraud or aid illegal immigration. This would result in putting the public in greater danger of becoming victims of identity crime.

We have carefully considered the balance of the public interest test and concluded that, in this case it is in favour of non-disclosure. The information should be restricted to those who need to check passports as part of their duties in investigating crime or operating the immigration controls.

If you are dissatisfied with this response you may request an independent internal review of any aspect of our handling of your application by submitting your complaint to: the address below and quoting the reference FOICR 9526/08

Information Rights Team
Information and Record Management Service
Home Office
4th Floor, Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Email: [email address]

During the internal review the department's handling of your information request will be reassessed by members of staff who were not involved in providing you with this response.

Should you remain dissatisfied after this internal review, you will have a right of complaint to the Information Commissioner as established by section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act.

I realise that you may be disappointed with this response. However we have considered the application of exemptions with great care in this case and the Identity and Passport Service always seeks to provide as much information as it is able to .

Yours sincerely,

On behalf of James Hall, Chief Executive

Identity and Passport Service

For advice on how and where to obtain a passport,

call the Passport Adviceline on 0870 521 0410

(24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

You can also email [email address]

or visit www.ips.gov.uk

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