Ultra quick way to cut out ID fraud in Leominster
 
Pubs, clubs and local police officers in Leominster have been equipped with an ultra quick way of detecting fake ID cards thanks to special ultra violet pens.
Sergeant Mike Doolan from the Local Policing Team has worked with the Leominster HAND (Herefordshire Against Night-time Disorder) group to secure a supply of the special pen lights, to clamp down on the use of forged or false identity cards, driving licences and passports by young people trying to prove they are over 18.
The pens highlight watermarks and holograms on real identification cards and papers which are not present on the forgeries.  The inexpensive pen-shaped lights are worn on a pendant so door staff at pubs and clubs can quickly determine if the ID they are presented with is genuine.
“A number of false cards, licences and passports have been bought by young people through the internet and other sources which would suggest that the bearer is over 18 and can therefore be sold alcohol,” explained Sgt Doolan.  “To the naked eye, these cards are very hard to differentiate from the real thing.  However, under the ultraviolet detector pens, it quickly becomes apparent that the false cards do not have the security holograms embedded in the card.
“Some youngsters are apparently paying up to £15 for these cards.  Thanks to the detector pens they will now be useless as HAND members will not serve anyone with a forged card and will retain the produced card to hand over to the police for further investigation.”
Police have been working closely with the HAND members - which includes the town’s pubs, nightclub and a number of off-licences - to ensure that everyone can enjoy a safe and friendly atmosphere within the town.  The detector pens are an additional means to assist reducing alcohol abuse and the anti-social behaviour associated with it.
Sgt Doolan continued: “Buying a fake or false ID to claim you are older than you actually are may be tempting, however such cards undermine the work of national proof of age schemes as well as the law.
“The providers of fake ID cards always state that they are supplying them for novelty purposes only and include a disclaimer in their literature, which advises the purchaser that if used for any other purposes they could be committing an offence.  This is known in law as ‘Using a False Instrument’ and the penalty could be anywhere from six months to 10 years imprisonment, a fine or both.
“Young people should remember that age restrictions are there for their own protection and not simply to spoil their fun.”
Sue Witherstone, chair for the HAND forum in Leominster, added: “As chairman of HAND, I feel this latest piece of equipment will be a great help to all in the licensed trade.  Children these days look so much older than their actual ages and as licensees we face large fines for selling to underage customers.  Even though we ask for ID cards from those who have the good fortune to look young, until now we had no easy way to know if the identification was genuine.”
Members of the Local Policing Team and response police officers based in Leominster have all been issued with the ultraviolet pen-lights, together with the HAND members, and will be using them to assist detection of false or forged documents.