Posted By John Andrew
I have recently registered with a well established H&S employment agency. They have requested a photo-copy of my passport apparently to 'prove my eligibility to work within the EU'

In view of the surge in cases of identity fraud I'm not too happy about this and would welcome any comments and advice.

Thanks

Posted By William
This is standard practice, i have a copy of my passport scanned for this purpose.

I even had to send my passport to an agency last year by recorded delivery for confirmation that i could work in the UK even though born and bred and never been out the country.

Funnily enough did you hear the one about the 5 Iraqis who claimed were born on the 1st of January and all went to work in the same fish factory in Inverness.
They were all in court yesterday on ID theft charges, they were more likely to have been born on the 1st of April i think.

Posted By Alexander Falconer
John

This is a requirement under section 8 of The Immigration (Restrictions on Employment) Order 2004.

The aim is to prevent illegal working in the UK.

You would probably ask yourself the question, "but I am a UK national, surely this only applies to foreign nationals"

If you did, then the race relations act & the issue of discrimination comes up. Hence why it applies to everyone.

Had I not worked closely with HR in a previous role, then I would probably be just as ignorant (for want of a better word) on the rules.

In the meantime, I found the following document very helpful and explains everything.

http://www.ind.homeoffic.../18469/fullguidance1.pdf

Main web address is

http://www.ind.homeoffic...reventingillegalworking/

The issue re the iraqi's, this is quite common, I experienced those who had ID cards at issue 1 which highlighted the holder was permitted to work in the UK, but declined to tell us, these had been reissued as issue 2 which declined the right to work in the UK.

Employers' Helpline on 0845 010 6677 gives a lot of advice. Build up a network with the immigration dept, as they can advise on the scams that are currently in place (doctored passports, false ID cards etc)

Posted By Gus Riley
Just a jobs worth being ultra cautious.

The regulations actually refer to people who are "subject to immigration control" which as a UK national you are not and provide the opportunity to use tow alternative alternative pieces of documentation to provide proof such as give National Insurance Card , P45 etc ....+ birth certificate,which many of us have provided for years.

Posted By Alexander Falconer
Gus

I resent the statement "just a jobsworth being ultra cautious"

Have you read the document I refer to?

Probably not

Where I am trying to come from is to highlight the document provides the statutory defences an employer can make under section 8 of the relevant legislation.

to quote

"Section 8 will also continue to provide you,
as an employer, with a statutory defence
from conviction if you check and record
certain specified documents belonging to your
potential employees. You should make this
check before a person starts working for you".

"Most of your potential employees who can
work here legally (including UK nationals) will be able to demonstrate this to you by producing an original document
from List 1 on the relevant pages of the legislation (pages 8–12). This will usually
be a UK passport or a passport from one
of the European Economic Area (EEA)"

Remember the conscept is all about preventing illegal working - you cannot predetermine whether or not someone is an immigrant just by looking at them - hence the concept that the rules equally apply to all

Suggest you read the documents before making such unbiased statements.

Posted By Alexander Falconer
Not necessarily, passorts are an approved document from List 1 and are acceptable on their own.

If unable to produce then two documents from List 2 are suitable. List 2 includes, one from

A) Documents issued by previous employers, Inland revenue, Dept of Work & Pensions etc, such as NI Number Cards (except thos with temporary numbers beginning with letters TN), P45's, P60's,

and one from
B) Birth certificate, which must include the names of the holder and their parents (full birth certificates only)
please note that short birth certificates do not list holders parents and are unacceptable

Many people who move into new employment have been complying with this legislation in the first place without realising (by providing P45/P65's and birth certificate details)

Alex