Caravan Insurance

Holidaymakers on a touring caravan trip abroad could take far better care of their passports, a new report has suggested.

Whereas 28 per cent of people keep valuables such as MP3 players in a securely locked place, only 22 per cent do so with their passports, although travellers such as caravanners are admittedly more security-conscious, with 58 per cent keeping it in a safe.

However, the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) is concerned that less than two thirds of people would immediately report a stolen passport to the authorities and it warned against complacency over the threat of identity theft.

Executive director Bernard Herdan explained: "Passports are often not seen as valuable so get left on a sideboard or put in a file. However, to a thief they are far more valuable than many gadgets and are likely to get stolen in a burglary if not securely locked away."

He added: "A stolen passport should always be reported immediately to minimise the risk of it being used as part of ongoing criminal activity."

The IPS strongly advises holidaymakers to make two photocopies of their passport before going away and leave one with a trusted friend or family member - something only one in five travellers actually do.

It also urges travellers never to hand over their passports when abroad, unless they have been assured by the British Consulate that it is standard procedure there.