Door staff flooded with fake ID cards in Colchester (From Essex County Standard)

Door staff flooded with fake ID cards in Colchester

10:00am Friday 9th April 2010

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FAKE college identity cards are flooding Colchester, nightclub doorman have warned.

Security staff say high-quality copies of Colchester Institute’s student photo ID cards, showing the bearer to be over 18, are being used by teenagers eager to get in to adults-only venues.

The fake cards are so realistic they are also being used by under-age youngsters to buy booze in shops and pubs.

Many of the door staff working at pubs and clubs in the town are supplied by Braintree-based company Regency Security, which claims the use of fake IDs by underage youngsters is a common problem.

Regency’s Paul DeAngelis said: “Every couple of months there’s a different type of fake card going around.

“At the moment, it does appear to be this fake Colchester Institute card.

“However, while fake ID cards are an issue, the bigger problem at the moment is people using their brother or sister’s passport or driving licence.

“We’ve told all our door supervisors to be very tough and to check ID closely.

“We also operate a Challenge 21 policy, where if you look under 21, we will always ask for proof of age.”

Mr DeAngelis said the increase in the number of fake ID cards meant his staff were reluctant to accept anything but Government-approved identity documents, such as passports, driving licences and Ministry of Defence cards.

Mick Aitchison, Colchester police licensing officer, said: “We will be investigating. We’d ask all pub and club owners to make sure they scrutinise identification cards.

“Licensed premises should only accept photo identification, such as a passport, photo driving licence or citizen card, or Proof of Age Standards Scheme-approved cards.”

Emma Fazakerley, communications officer at Colchester Institute, said: “Our student ID cards do not include a date of birth on them. We would urge pubs and clubs to check an appropriate and official ID card, for example a driver’s licence or passport, when checking for people’s age.”

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