Huge fines if ID card details wrong

12 April 2012

Women who change their names after marriage could face fines of up to £1,000 if they fail to tell the Government, it was revealed.

Anyone holding a biometric passport or ID card will be required to notify the National Identity Register of changes to the personal data it holds.

Draft legislation sets out the fines payable by anyone who fails to comply.

The Home Office also revealed the £30 fixed fee for the cost of the card is set only until 2010. Most people are likely to pay more when large scale issuing of cards begins in 2011 or 2012, it emerged.

The personal details which must be kept up to date include name, address, nationality and even gender.

Special provisions have been made for people undergoing sex changes.

Transgendered people will have two cards at the same time, one for their old identity and a new one for when they have completed their sex change.

Fines will also apply if cardholders fail to report their cards lost or stolen, and will be enforceable by the civil courts.

The consultation document states fines are "not intended to be punitive or revenue raising". Officials stress card holders will usually have the fines waived if they agree to have their data updated when the errors emerge.

They say the penalties are necessary to ensure the information on the database remains current.

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