Insecure ID cards phased out to strengthen UK borders

Last year alone, almost half of all false documents detected at the border were EU, EEA or Swiss ID cards. They can be easily abused by individuals attempting to enter the country illegally. By ceasing to accep these forms of ID, the Government can prevent organised criminal gangs and illegal migrants from attempting to use them for entering the UK unlawfully.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “The UK has a proud history of being open to the world. ‘Global Britain’ will continue in that tradition. However, we must clamp down on the criminals who seek to enter our country illegally using forged documents. By ending the use of insecure ID cards, we are strengthening our borders and delivering on the people’s priority to take back control of our immigration system.”

Patel added: “We are doing this as part of our ‘New Plan for Immigration’, which will be firm on those who seek to abuse the system and fair on those who play by the rules.”

Notoriously insecure

ID cards are a notoriously insecure form of travel document for a number of reasons. Some cards don’t have biometric data included, making it easier to falsify the data recorded. Also, they’re more difficult to cross-reference with criminal record databases than passports.

Although a new ID card security standard is being introduced across the EU, cards will still be in circulation for the next five-to-ten years which do not conform to these standards. Further, inconsistencies in the design and security features of the cards make them easier to counterfeit than passports.

The Government’s move was first signposted 12 months ago. The change itself fulfils the Government’s commitment to take back control of the UK’s borders and means that EU, EEA and Swiss citizens now follow the same rules for entering the UK as travellers from the rest of the world.

Rights of EU citizens

The Government remains committed to protecting the rights of EU citizens who have made their lives in the UK. As agreed when the UK exited the EU, those individuals within the EU Settlement Scheme (or with equivalent rights) will be able to continue using ID cards until at least 2025.

The move also marks an important step in the Government’s long-term strategy to deliver a fully digitised border, thereby providing a more streamlined and seamless customer experience for travellers entering the UK.

Those without a passport from 1 October are liable to be refused entry to the UK, although Border Force officers will retain the right to exercise discretion in relation to individual cases.