At least they can send text messages to give the bad news

10,000 passports were issued to imaginary people last year. If I’d known it was so easy to get a UK passport I wouldn’t have spent so much money and time getting a proper visa.

It admitted 10,000 passports were wrongly given in the past year, but said plans to interview applicants would combat such fraud.

The current level of incompetence (no face-to-face interviews?) dazzles me. If they can’t sort out their own passport office, what in Deity’s name can they do about more complex issues like asylum seekers and illegal immigrants?

• 20 Mar 2007