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Police on the cards for licensees and doorstaff

From today (Wednesday 17 January 2018) PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) launches a new design to reflect support from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) whose logo is now shown on the cards. The card also displays the logo of the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

Following a Home Office campaign earlier this year urging young people not to use passports as proof of age, Rachel Kearton, Assistant Chief Constable of Suffolk Police and National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) lead for alcohol and licensing, is urging customers to use the new PASS cards instead:

“Enforcing the law on underage sale is a major policing priority. Lost Passports cause a major problem not only for the owner but for the police should they fall into the hands of criminals. It makes no sense for young people to take these valuable documents into town for a night out. I would like to see PASS used more frequently in the night time economy”.

Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of the ALMR (Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers) and PASS Interim Chairman, also welcomed the new design:

“The NPCC logo on the cards sends an important message that the police, alongside the Home Office and trading standards, recognise the card as valid ID. Mandatory Licensing Conditions make it clear that only approved physical photo-ID can be accepted at the door or at the bar and licensees and doorstaff should accept PASS cards as valid ID. “

Notes to editors:

1. The Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) accredits UK proof of age card issuers to a standard endorsed by the Home Office, Scottish Government, police, security industry, trading standards and retailers of age-restricted goods & services. PASS’s goal is to achieve universal acceptance of cards bearing the trademarked PASS hologram as retailers’ preferred proof of age.

2. 9 card issuers are PASS accredited: 4 UK-wide issuers (CitizenCard, MyIDCard, OneID4U, Validate UK), Scottish issuer Young Scot and 4 English local authorities (Bracknell Forest, Essex, Milton Keynes, Southwark).

3. PASS is supported by six major trade bodies: Association of British Bookmakers, Association of Convenience Stores, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, British Beer & Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping and the Wine & Spirits Trade Association.

For more information contact:
Dr Martin Rawlings, PASS Secretariat
07768 614281 martin@pass-scheme.org.uk

The Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) is to become a Community Interest Company, overseen by an Executive Board which will include representation from industry and card issuers.

The move follows a structural review over the last twelve months, which will see the introduction of a new committee structure, including a PASS Promotion and Awareness Committee to grow the acceptance of PASS accredited cards, and an Audit Standards Committee to keep the robust PASS audit standards under review.  The organisation will also be looking to appoint a new Chairman to take on the role from Robert Humphreys MBE, who is stepping down, having chaired PASS for over ten years.

Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers and Acting Chair of PASS, said:

“We would like to pay tribute to Robert for all his hard work over the years to establish PASS.  The standardisation of the card design two years ago was a very positive step and we will continue to build on that. The PASS hologram assists all those selling age-restricted products to identify genuine proof of age cards, and is an essential part of their due diligence.”

For the first time in the history of PASS, approved card issuers will be involved in the governance of the scheme.

Andrew Chevis, Chief Executive of Citizencard said:

“Card issuers are delighted to be playing a pro-active part in the management and development of PASS going forward.  We look forward to working with industry partners to ensure that PASS becomes the UK’s preferred choice for Proof of Age.”

Notes for Editors:

1. The Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) accredits UK proof of age card issuers to a standard endorsed by the Home Office, Scottish Government, police and retailers of age-restricted goods & services.  PASS’s goal is to achieve universal acceptance of cards bearing the trademarked PASS hologram as retailers’ preferred proof of age.

2. PASS was launched in 2001 following an initiative led by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to provide a system of endorsement for card schemes. The existing company, PASSCo Ltd,  will cease to be owned by BRC upon transfer to the new Community Interest Company.

3. 11 issuers are currently PASS accredited: 5 UK-wide issuers (CitizenCard, Civiliancard, MyIDCard, OneID4U, VALIDATE UK), Scottish issuer Young Scot, and 5 English local authorities (Bracknell Forest, Essex, Milton Keynes, Sandwell, Southwark).

4. Around 200,000 cards were issued in 2015/16 and a target of 300,000 is set for 16/17.

5. PASS is supported by six major trade bodies: Association of British Bookmakers, Association of Convenience Stores, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, British Beer and Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping and the Wine and Spirits Trade Association.

6. The Directors of the new PASS Community Interest Company are Kate Nicholls, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers; Miles Beale, Wine and Spirit Trade Association; Andrew Chevis, Citizencard; David McNeill, Young Scot.

Norman Baker MP, Minister of State for Crime Prevention, launched the new PASS 18 plus card design today at Tiger Tiger in London’s West End.  He was joined by Chief Constable Adrian Lee, Licensing Lead for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and Bill Butler, Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

Introducing the changes, Robert Humphreys, Chair of PASS said “In future, all PASS cards issued to people over the age of 18 in England and Wales will be of a standard design (see picture) to ease recognition.  This is the most fundamental change to the PASS Proof of Age Scheme since its launch in 2001. During this time over 5 million cards have been issued and the PASS hologram is widely recognised and accepted in both the on and off trade.”

Norman Baker MP, Minister of State at the Home Office, said “Alcohol-fuelled harm costs society around £21billion a year and the coalition government is determined to significantly reduce this.

“The launch of the new Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) 18+ Design Standard is a major step forward in the prevention of alcohol abuse and associated anti-social behaviour by underage drinkers.”

“The new PASS cards will also lead to fewer people losing their passport on a night out, which in turn will reduce offences such as identity theft and fraud.”

“I encourage the security industry and all owners of licensed premises to get behind PASS and ensure the cards are accepted by their staff.”

Adrian Lee, Chief Constable of Northampton and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) lead on licensing said “Enforcing the law on underage sale is a major policing priority. When I joined the PASS Board last year, I issued a challenge that PASS should adopt a single design for all cards issued to those aged 18 and over in England and Wales. One objective was to make it easier for Door Staff to identify cards outside venues when it is not only busy – but often dark.   I have been enormously impressed with the speed that the industry has responded to this challenge and convinced that this will be a major step forward in preventing under age sales.”

“Lost Passports cause a major problem not only for the owner but for the police should they fall into the hands of criminals.  It makes no sense for young people to take these valuable documents   into town for a night out.  I would like to see PASS become the preferred proof of age for the night time economy”.

Bill Butler, Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority said “SIA licensed door supervisors have a difficult job to do, often in a challenging environment.   The PASS proof of age card has helped door staff carry out their duties in a responsible and effective way, and the new card design is a massive step forward in making PASS cards easy for door staff to recognise and accept.”

Norman Baker MP, Minister of State for Crime Prevention, will launch the new PASS 18 plus card design on Tuesday 10th June 2014 at Tiger Tiger in London’s West End.

Other speakers will include Chief Constable Adrian Lee, Licensing Lead for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and Bill Butler, Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

PASS Chairman, Robert Humphreys said, “This will be the most fundamental change to the PASS Proof of Age Scheme since its launch in 2003. During this time over 5 million cards have been issued and the PASS Hologram is widely recognised and accepted in both the on and off trade. Over the past 18 months we have conducted extensive research with retailers across the UK which has shown that a standardised card design would greatly improve recognition and ease acceptance. We believe that these changes will make PASS the preferred Proof of Age for all age restricted products.”