Another Goverment security blunder.

[anotheoldgit]

Hijackers stole thousands of blank British passports worth �2.5million when a delivery driver pulled up outside a shop to buy some chocolate and a paper.

What a cavalier attitude to take, when in charge of a cargo worth �2.5million.

This driver and his vehicle should have been subjected to being timed out on departure, and timed back in on arrival.

The vehicle should have also been escorted on it's journey by police outriders, after all aren't certain V.I.Ps.

[dustypuss]

Psssssssssssss ,

any body want to by a passport;-)

[jake-the-peg]

Sounds like a civil service blunder to me.

Where do they get a figure of �2.5 million from.

No link - Mail perchance?

Good indication of the value of the new chips in passports they won't be able to use them at border points.

[rov1200]

Does that mean our passports are not worth the paper they are written on? All these counterfeits documents will make existing ones useless, that is, until we can get proper identity checks on ID cards. Bring them on!!!

[Oneeyedvic]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7530180.stm

Thieves who got away with 3,000 blank passports and visas worth around �2.5 million targeted the van as it stopped at a newsagent's, police have said.

So each passport is worth �833.33

Strange number - you would have thought it would be �1000 or �750. Do these people give change or do you have to bring the exact amount?

[anotheoldgit]

Get real, the �2.5millon is what they are worth on the 'Black Market' or couldn't you have worked that out also?

[anotheoldgit]

Because the Goverment should be more careful what firms they allow to tender for these high security services.

[BillySugger]

Maybe they were 'lost' on purpose further fuel for the freedom lovers who want identity cards introduced ??

[jno]

that's the trouble with outsourcing, oldgit: you can only try to choose the best bet from those who bid to provide the service. If this was handled in house by a proper socialist government then at least you could hold the minister in question responsible and some heads might roll. Instead, business just gets subcontracted to the unreliable British worker to carry out. They would have done better to have hired some responsible east Europeans with a sense of duty.

[jake-the-peg]

I didn't realise the Daily Mule was so expert on the price of hookey passports!

Are you seriously suggesting armoured carriers with police outriders on a cargo worth �2.5 million?

What do you reckon the "black market value" is of a container full of cigarettes?

Maybe Benson and Hedges needs helicopter support!

As I recall Maggies wonderful government used to use Group 4!

They just lost prisoners!

I rest my case

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jul/29/ukcri me1

Blank British passports stolen from a security van would be worth �2.5m on the black market, police said today.

A section from your beloved Leffties hymn sheet, they may be a little behind the Daily Mail, but I suppose they get there.

Your constant Daily Mail bashing, makes you appear rather silly jake-the-peg. Stolen cigarettes do not have the security risk attached to them, as do blank passports.

How many illegal immigrants have gone missing under Blair's and Brown's watch, and more important, these could be potential terrorists.

No answer from you Oneeyedvic, did I make you look silly also?

[VINNY100_2]

It seems strange that there were a bunch off hijackers sitting outside a paper shop...erm...what should we hijack today then.blimey thats a bit off luck ,a van full of passports. sounds like the driver took a bung (:O)

[123everton]

It was theft and (apparently) a violent theft.
It is not the fault of the government.
I agree with Vinny sounds like an inside job, perhaps the driver worked to a habit (offered in the name of balance)

[Oneeyedvic]

Erm, why did you make me look silly?

And what was the question that you were looking for an answer to

[Lonnie]

Just seems strange to me, that under this goverments watch, so much material thats a godsend to illegals has been 'lost'.

[China Doll]

I would worry more about those lovely little thingies I see people with that save stuff from your computer so that you can take it home to work on. Just about everyone I've ever worked with has done that at one point or another. Since I work for the NHS you can imagine the sort of stuff we're carrying around.

[Oneeyedvic]

does thingy = usb memory key?

[China Doll]

USB!

Cheers Vic... This is why I'm not allowed to play with the buttons unsupervised :c)

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, what on earth are they doing travelling through Oldham in the first place, let alone stopping off at a corner shop...

[NiceCupOfTea]

This bit of news made me wonder. Why on earth would the Police guard some places more than others? 'Cause they're more high risk you'd think. Which to me explained the Police van shadowing the security van this morning when I went to work.

Then I see this in a nicer part of the country. I can't wait to see the details, as I cannot believe this van was left more or less unsecured by accident as its guards went shopping. There's no way that would happen surely? Why was there no Police van in this instance compared to mine?