ACPO calls on Proof of Age Standards Scheme card to be simplified

In an exclusive interview with the Publican’s Morning Advertiser​, chief constable Adrian Lee explained that licensees need to make better use of PASS cards.

Lee, who also sits on the board for PASS, added that the cards should be easier for doorstaff to use.

“I’m going to the board to present data on what issues doorstaff face, as to whether or not they accept PASS.

“This has been collected by police officers from across the country.

“My proposal is that there should be one side of a PASS card that is the same all over England and Wales so that it’s much easier for doorstaff in the middle of the night, in the dark, to identify that it is a PASS card.

“Then we can convince them to accept it, so we don’t have people carrying driving licences and passports.

“I think there’s potential for PASS to go through that development, but this is quite complicated because we don’t want to disadvantage people who have got the current PASS cards.”

Pubwatch and Best Bar None​

Lee also praised the Pubwatch and Best Bar None (BBN) schemes, but said that “we need to get more out of them”.

“I think we can get more out of those schemes, so it isn’t just a case of reaching the standards and then sort of settling back. We should carry on ensuring that the standards are getting higher and higher.

“I know that, in Scotland, for BBN, they’ve got a gold, silver, bronze approach, which I think has got a lot of merit and that’s been mentioned to me by colleagues
in Northampton. I think that’s something the BBN could consider.”

PASS chairman Robert Humphreys and BBN chairman Philip Kolvin welcomed Lee’s comments.

“Doorstaff remain the real challenge for the PASS card,” said Humphreys. “Half of them say they do not accept the cards. It is the final nut to crack for us.

“The idea could work and it would be quite a big change. The board will consider the suggestions.”