Authentication by Interview (AbI)
Client Information
The Identity & Passport Service (IPS)
As an executive agency for the Home Office, The United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) was responsible for issuing UK passports to British Nationals in the UK. In April 2006 the UKPS was combined with the Home Office Identity Cards Programme to form the Identity and Passport Service (IPS).
Project Information
The Identity & Passport Service (IPS) Authentication by Interview (AbI)
The AbI Project was one of the eight major projects essential to IPS's Integrated Change Programmes for improving identity verification and preventing identity fraud. The fundamental aim of the project was to use interviewing as part of an integrated application process to authenticate the identity of passport applicants as specified within the IPS Corporate Plan. The benefit of introducing interviews for applicants included a reduction in passport fraud and illegal entry into the UK. This in turn contributed to an overall reduction in crime figures. Furthermore, with the increase of international terrorism, there was an additional need for ever increasing vigilance in detecting fraudulent passport applications and false passports. In line with this, the IPS's vision was to focus on stronger identity authentication for the purpose of issuing passports.
By focusing on stronger identification, IPS was able to provide better client service by safeguarding customer's identities. In turn, this has benefited society by reducing fraud and enabled IPS to continue to provide the best and safest identification process in the UK. The project was the platform for the national identity cards and involved working closely with the Home Office partners.
The specific objectives of the project were to:
- Prevent, reduce, and more efficiently detect fraudulent applications
- Deter illegal entry into the UK
- Maintain the integrity of the UK Passport
- Safeguard the identity of British Nationals
MRL Deliverables
- Initiated and managed the entire Project for IPS both internally and externally.
- Co-ordinated the work of the Project with the Home Office UK ID Card Programme.
- Managed and developed the Service Delivery Model to implement the changes internally and externally to IPS.
- Developed the project plan and other project dependencies for the Project and Integrated Change Programme consisting of 85 initiatives.
- Defined the scope of the Project, including the various stages from inception to implementation.
- Managed the various internal and external review processes, i.e. Office of Government Commerce (OGC), the Home Office Group Investment Board (GIB) and Strategic Delivery Board (SDB).
- Prepared the Strategic Outline Case, including development of the Outline Business Case.
- Lead on the development and provided advice to the Organisational Change and Organisational Design work stream leader and team.
- Leaded on the development and provided advice to the Stakeholder management and Communications Management work stream leader and team.
- Coached transferred skills to the new IPS project manager and after assisted him in the uptake of his role.
- Managed the entire Project finances.
- Prepared the necessary ministerial briefs and Q&A documents for the Parliament Select Committee.
Further Information:
- Identity and Passport Service Website
- Information on Passport Interviews
- BBC News: Interviews for Passports 'Vital'
- BBC News: UK Biometric Passports Launched
- Home Office ID Card Website
