Left high and dry by callous passport staff

Regarding your article last week which revealed that British travellers overseas will now have to wait two days to receive a replacement passport, it is not only those travelling far away who have problems with lost/ stolen passports.

My wife’s niece was mugged in Dublin recently and had her passport, driving licence and wallet taken. She reported this to the Garda and her passport loss to British Embassy staff, who gave her a form to complete.

When she went back a few days later, the staff would not let her into the building but told her to go to Belfast. However, she did not have any money, so how was she supposed to get there? The embassy staff really couldn’t have cared less. John Kent, London From experience of being on the ‘other side’ of the desk, I can tell you most of these passports are either lost in bars or stolen in the streets of holiday hotspots. The majority of people don’t treat their passport with respect and do not realise that it actually belongs to the British Government (read the inside page). It’s a privilege, not a right, and can be withdrawn after multiple losses. Losing your passport is a huge security risk and the issue of an emergency passport is not taken lightly. Name and address supplied Why on Earth is the Government not supporting British jobs and putting this centre in the UK instead of transferring the work to Poland and Spain? A. Smith, Brighton It used to take far longer than two days to get a replacement, and we should think ourselves lucky we’re not American. Several years ago, I was on a tour of South America when an American woman had her passport stolen. She missed several days of the tour while US officials confirmed her identity.

A. Nicholson, Somerset People are far too careless with passports. I know one woman who left her passport in her car – six months later the vehicle was broken into and the passport was stolen. Her only concern was about the delay involved in replacing it. The Government has to introduce some kind of penalty when people lose such vital documents. Name and address supplied I always keep a photocopy of my passport in a safe place when I travel. Jim Grant, Aberdeen People who lose their passports should bear the financial responsibility for its replacement.

Ellen Bolton, Manchester