The Passport Service has begun a huge IT investment programme, worth £2om a year over the next three years. A series of major projects will pave the way for the introduction of biometric passports and ID cards, computerised background checks on passport applicants, and sophisticated anti-terrorism checks. The work represents a significant change in priorities for the agency, which has been focusing on improving its customer service, said its chief executive, Bernard Herdan. "We are being asked by government to toughen up the identity-authentication process and deal with the serious issue of fraud," he said.
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