Stark Message for Impersonators

Posted on November 24th, 2009 by admin, under Latest News.

Beware of DSA, driving test fraudsters and impersonators! DSA’s Fraud and Integrity Team has sharpened its prowess at tracking down criminals who attempt to evade or infiltrate the driving test. DSA’s achievements cumulated in winning first national identity crime award on 20 November.

The National Identity Crime Award was introduced to honor police forces and government agencies which contribute to the national combat against identity crime. To address increased activity of organised criminal gangs which impersonate people unwilling or unable to pass the driving test, DSA established Fraud and Integrity Team in 2004. Since then it has investigated over 3,000 alleged incidents of impersonation, resulting in 821 arrests and 1,186 driving licences revoked. Hundreds of criminals, who were never qualified for driving, were barred from using public roads.

Impersonation is a serious crime that is punishable with imprisonment. Criminals supply driving licences to people who are unwilling to pass driving tests or even those who are not eligible to do so. It may negatively impact road and public safety. In addition, driving licence may be used as a false identity to support further fraud offences.

DSA’s head of Fraud and Integrity, Andy Rice, accepted the award and reassured: “We will continue to develop our methods and intelligence in the future to combat all forms of crime around the driving test. Our investigations, and the resulting court sentences, send a clear message out to anyone thinking of this type of crime – we will use every method at our disposal to bring you to justice.”