29/06/04 - Getting bogus proof of age cards is childsplay

Undercover officers from Cumbria County Council's Trading Standards Department have shown how easy it is to obtain false proof of age cards.   

Officers, together with colleagues in North Yorkshire, applied over the internet to 15 companies offering proof of age cards, using false names and dates of birth, and supplying bogus references. Despite this, 12 companies supplied a card based on the fictitious information.   

Cumbria County Council Community Safety Spokesman Jack Richardson said: "Youngsters know that they can obtain these cards, and this survey reinforces that. This places retailers in a very difficult position when approached by a youth asking for an age restricted product such as cigarettes or alcohol".   

Ernie Greenhalgh, Assistant County Trading Standards Officer at Cumbria Trading Standards, said: "There are dozens of UK-based suppliers of ID cards offering fake cards. Although the cards will often indicate that they are false, they at best cause confusion and at worst deceive shopkeepers". 

The three companies who refused to supply a proof of age card were all members of a government/trading standards - backed scheme (PASS). Membership requires them to follow standard checking procedures.   

Charges for proof of age cards vary from £5 to £20.