Passport Office 'in total crisis,' says employee

An employee at the Passport Office has raised concerns about security, computer problems and the increasing number of passports stuck in the system - many of which she said were not even recorded in official figures released.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's PM programme, she suggested that the Passport Office was "in total crisis, a total mess". Her voice has been disguised to protect her identity.

The Home Office said no-one was available for interview on the subject but issued the following statement:

"These allegations are false. We receive thousands of applications every week with their numbers constantly changing. We aim to log all applications within 48 hours of receipt at which point they become active work in progress.

"All staff examining passport applications receive appropriate training, including on policies and processes to identify suspected fraud. This is supported by supervision and stringent quality checks to prevent fraudulent passports being issued."