ACS - Anya Consultancy services

Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT)

ACS Capability with Scanning Solutions

5th February2024 | Sharon Dempsey

Why Choose ACS for your Scanning Solution?

Scanning and validating identity documents is complex, requiring high quality and experienced providers. In this paper we describe the proven capabilities of ACS.

What is IDVT?

Identity document validation technologies (IDVT) are forms of technology that can quickly and easily assist organisations to establish the authenticity of documents presented for identity verification purposes. IDVTs can play an important role in preventing the use of fraudulent documentation. Whilst they do not replace forgery experts, they provide higher levels of accuracy and assurance than the manual checking of documents by staff not used to checking different forms of identity documents.

Who might want to use IDVT?

Any organisation or individual who wants to verify an identity as part of a document checking process to determine whether the person is eligible to:

Travel into and out of the UK or other border controls : Confirm Booking details are the same as check in details
obtain employment or accommodation in the UK, as part of a right to work or right to rent check
hotel check in
work in vulnerable sectors, e.g. where an individual requires a DBS check
obtain access to controlled premises or services, such as secure areas or licensed premises
apply for public services
be charged for receiving NHS treatment
obtain financial services

There is a wide range of documents that individuals can use to establish their identity and status, for example passports, identity cards and driving licences. When high quality forgeries are presented to users who are not familiar with the quality of documents, it can become challenging for them to differentiate between genuine and false documents.

Benefits of IDVT?

IDVTs are tools that can help you to save:

time – identity document validation technology should make checking documents quick
money – should reduce the risk of employing or providing accommodation to illegal migrants or becoming victims of fraud
worry – it should provide higher levels of confidence about the identity of prospective applicants, users of services, customers or employees

Document Types

ACS has proven capability scanning and validating the following document

Documents supported	ACS Capability
passports	Proven capability
driving licences	Proven capability
identity cards	Proven capability
biometric residence permits	Not supported to date

Government Recommended Features of an IDVT

All IDVTs should be capable of doing all or some of the following:

Feature	Example	ACS Capability
detect counterfeit^]documents - Basic checks	checking whether the biographic information contained on the document matches the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) which is printed on the bottom of the biographical page in modern passports and on some identity cards.	Proven capability on mobile devices and desktop scanners
operate either in a fully or semi-automated manner	many IDVTs are fully or semi-automated so that the system either confirms whether the document is authentic or provides a report to enable the user to come to a decision on whether to accept the document as authentic	Proven capability on mobile devices and desktop scanners
not to be destructive to the document being checked	IDVTs should be able to check documents repeatedly without damaging them. This means the check should not involve the physical testing of the document	Proven capability on mobile devices and desktop scanners
provide a report of each check to the user	the IDVT should be able to provide a clear report of its check to the user so it is clear how it verified a document and can be shared with law enforcement bodies where appropriate	Full Reporting capabilities
operate as an online service if required	the IDVT should be able to operate as an online service, where required by the user, so they are able to remotely share and update information.	Can be supported
meets the requirements of General Data Protection Regulation	the IDVT will need to ensure their services meet the requirements of this regulation	Full Conformance of GDPR
detect counterfeit^]documents - Sophisticated checks	The more sophisticated technologies have the ability to open and examine chips on passports and identity cards and are able to scan images of documents under different forms of light	Not supported at this time
authenticate chipped documents	including many apps available on some smartphone devices that contain a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip reading capability^{[footnote 5]}, can authenticate the chips on biometric (electronic) passports or identity cards.	Not supported at this time

Government Recommended Additional Features of an IDVT

All IDVTs should be capable of doing all or some of the following:

Additional Feature	Example	ACS Capability
share reports on fraudulent documents, (including images and meta-data) with other databases.	For example, through the Metropolitan Police Service Amberhill database on false identities and identity documents	ACS has proven capability to integrate through webservices and APIs
securely store any data that needs to be retained on the system.	This will be helpful when it is essential for users to keep records of any checks they have made	ACS has proven capability to host data securely
provide a support service to the user (digital or telephone) where users can query suspect documents.	This helps users to confirm the authenticity of suspect documents and what they should do with false documents	ACS has a 247365 Help Desk Capability that can be extended for this
create local watch lists and, enable users to share watch lists among their user groups.	For example, licensed premises may want to share data on individuals who they have excluded from their premises, or employers may want to share the data on false documents with other branches or franchises	Capability could be enabled with minimal change
offer data minimisation capabilities.	For example, licensed premises only need to know whether a person is aged over the age of 18 or older. Door staff should not have access to other non-relevant information such as the individual’s address, date of birth, passport number and expiry date	Capability could be enabled with minimal change
conduct checks against other data-sources	some systems are able to conduct checks against other data sources, which can be used by the system to help verify an identity	Proven capability to check the scanned passport information against check in database
perform impostor checks	some systems incorporate biometric checking capabilities or other forms of technology to help prevent genuine documents from being used by impostors	Not proven, but ACS is an integration specialist
be included as part of a wider identity checking service	some IDVTs are included as part of a wider digital service where identity documents need to be checked, such as online applications to the DBS Service	Proven capability to integrate with Home Office for API and this could be extended further
maintain secure digital records of identity documents they have checked	some IDVTs enable users to reduce their levels of paper processing and the costs of storing paper documents	Proven capability

If this is of interest and you would like to explore further then please contact info@anyaconsultancy.com

For more information on ACS, technology and domain expertise, please visit our website at www.anyaconsultancy.com

About Anya Consultancy Services

ACS is a global SI headquartered in the UK with offices On-shore in England and Scotland, Near-shore in Romania and Portugal and Off-shore in India.

We started in 2010 as an integration specialist, working with big enterprises to integrate ERP, Manufacturing, Warehouse and e-Commerce solutions.

Since that time, we have widened our portfolio via a mix of organic growth and acquisitions to encompass a Hi-tech engineering capability, our successful IT services business and a growing portfolio of SaaS solutions from in store radio station management through to Digital catering solutions feeding ‘000s of NHS patients every day.