TRADING standards chiefs in North Yorkshire want more powers to help them crack down on websites selling dodgy identification documents.

Officials believe the number of sites selling everything from passports to driving licences, utility bills, car tax discs and even MOTs is growing rapidly.

In only a few minutes the Evening Press was able to trace a site offering a UK passport for £2,250, a UK photocard driving licence for £125 and a replica MOT certificate for £45.

The valuable documents could easily be used by a criminal to obtain goods or credit, deceive the police and other authorities, or even to travel across international borders.

The anonymous website states: "These are real passports where we can change the photo page...can be used for opening bank accounts or purchasing property in the UK and EU."

Graham Venn, who heads North Yorkshire Trading Standards, said he is very concerned about the site which is one of many offering fake documentation.

He said: "We have drawn these websites to the attention of the Home Office and we have had a success in shutting down one that offered fake qualifications.

"I'm concerned about the growing number of internet sites that are offering false identity papers such as credit card and bank statements, false vehicle discs or even passports.

"We are struggling with the resources that we have got to fight it. We need to be kicking these users off the internet, and to do that we need powers to shut down these sites quicker.

"The only use that can be given to these things is illegal, and we should be able to shut them down until they can justify what they are selling.

"At the moment the onus is on us to find the evidence and that means we have to go out to individual users, raid their homes and take computers. It costs a lot of money.

"Unless there is action this problem is going to get out of all proportion."

Also advertised on the website are V5 vehicle log books, European identity cards and false employee identification cards.

The site is registered anonymously, and those that run it can only be contacted through an email address.

A Trading Standards Institute spokesman backed calls for specific legislation to tighten controls on the sale of identification documents. He said the law on the matter is "far from good or clear".

He said: "In many cases there is no legitimate reason why anybody should be supplying or buying this stuff. We are asking for a better licensing regime that controls their sale."

Drive to foil nightclub ID fiddle

UNDER-18s who try and use dodgy ID to gain entry to licensed premises in York face a tough time as door staff wise up to fake documents.

Police are working with bar and nightclub managers to raise awareness of false identification papers used by youngsters.

Door staff are confiscating dozens of counterfeit cards and dodgy documents every week as they check the age of young revellers.

Officers believe that many of the IDs are bought on the internet for as little as £3 or from companies that advertise in youth magazines.

Trading standards chiefs are pushing for new legislation, because in many cases selling the documents does not break the law. It is only an offence to use the cards to try to "obtain a commercial advantage".

Jane Mowat, who heads Safer York Partnership, said cracking down on under-18s who try and enter bars and clubs forms part of the drive to cut drink-related violence and crime.

"We have discovered that a large number of young people are buying and using these things to get into bars and nightclubs and it is of great concern to us," she said.

"It's not just false student cards and employer IDs, but driving licences and even official Prove It cards. Some are almost impossible to distinguish from the real thing.

"We are planning a leaflet campaign to raise awareness of the problem among door staff and people who work in the licensed trade and have asked York MP Hugh Bayley to raise the issue with the Home Office."

Leaflets that show examples of false documents are to be distributed around York and door staff are being given extra training to help recognise them.

PC Mike Welsh, who works at York's licensing office, said false identification documents will be confiscated and users could face prosecution in some circumstances.

He said: "Without a doubt police officers will want to know what the documents may have been used for and questions will be asked."

David Harrison, general manager of The Gallery nightclub, said his door staff confiscate "a handful" of dodgy documents every weekend from under-18s. He said: "We've picked up driving licences, Prove It cards and student IDs. It's amazing what some of these kids will use to try and mislead our staff".

Updated: 11:31 Wednesday, November 10, 2004