Welcome to Lawyers Without Frontiers (LWF), (Passports Advice Line (Pal)
This is a new programme. The purpose is to offer push-button advice to members of the public from any country, which may have an issue with his or her own government department, handling matters such as immigration, nationality, travel documents or passport enquiries.In life everything happens for a reason. Recently I was involved over an issue with IPS (Identity & Passport Service, in the United Kingdom). Before I left my office last night I received two disturbing. The first email was not genuine. It appeared to have come from a person known to me. That person known to me is a citizen of Nigeria. However, having studied the email which appeared to have come from the said person, I formed the opinion that the email was from someone connected with Google Inc. It was a clear attempt to denigrate me personally and to expose this Society to ridicule. I ignored that email
The second email was from a GP, (General Practitioner; i.e. Doctor of Medicine) with a surgery in the Midlands, England. I came to the conclusion that the email was genuine, following urgent enquiries.
In light of the aforesaid, I decided on the spot to create a push-button online service, titled Passports Advice Line. The word “PAL” means, “FRIEND”. PAL, as a Service would be friendly; professional, and intellectual.
Dear Dr,
In answer to your concerns, on behalf of Lawyers Without Frontiers, I offer the following advice. If this matter goes any further, the advice contained in this letter should form the basis of your Defence
1. It is admitted that ignorance of the law is not a Defence in criminal proceedings. However, there is nothing in the new format Application Form which says that you, as a GP cannot countersign Section 10.
2. There is nothing in the new format Application Form which identifies any statutory instrument, law or regulation setting out the list of persons or entities who may or may not countersign Section 10 of the said Application
3. There is nothing in the new format Application Form which imposes a duty upon you to charge or not to charge for countersigning Section 10 and any allegation that you obtained property, namely, the sum of £25. 00 belonging to your patient by deception must fail. For this kind of allegation to go to trial, it would require evidence you’re your patient to police, evidence that you obtained the money by deception.
4. If this matter goes any further you would naturally import the Human Rights Act 1998. GPs are valuable members of the British nation state. However, as you are an Asian of Indian origin, it seems to me that your name and pigmentation of your skin play a part in the decision jointly or severally made by IPS and police to say that you are not entitled to countersign Section 10. Did the Detective tell you how and at what point the police became aware that you countersigned Section 10?
In the mean time, the list of persons or entities who may countersign Section 10 of the new format Application for UK Passport, is as follows: I am stunned to note that GPs are not included in the list and from a personal point of view, I can only describe the non-inclusion of GPs in the list as a form of institutional racism.
The counter signatory must not be a relative, by birth or by marriage and you must not be in any sort of personal relationship with the Applicant
The List
Accountant
Airline Pilots
Articled clerk of a limited company
Assurance agent of recognised company
Bank/building society official
Barrister
British Computer Society (BCS) - Professional grades which are Associate (AMBCS),
Member (MBCS), Fellow (FBCS) (PN 25/2003)
Broker
Chairman/director of limited company
Chemist
Chiropodist
Christian Science practitioner
Commissioner of oaths
Councillor: local or county
Civil servant (permanent)
Dentist
Designated Premises Supervisors
Director/Manager of a VAT registered Charity
Director/Manager/Personnel Officer of a VAT registered Company
Engineer (with professional qualifications)
Fire service official
Funeral director
Insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
Journalist
Justice of the Peace
Legal secretary (members and fellows of the Institute of legal secretaries)
Local government officer
Manager/Personnel officer (of limited company)
Member of Parliament
Merchant Navy officer
Minister of a recognised religion
Nurse (RGN and RMN)
Officer of the armed services (active or retired)
Optician
Person with honours (e.g. OBE MBE etc.)
Personal Licensee Holders
Photographer (professional)
Police officer
Post Office official
President/Secretary of a recognised organisation
Salvation Army officer
Social worker
Solicitor
Surveyor
Teacher, lecturer
Trade union officer
Travel agency (qualified)
Valuers and auctioneers (fellow and associate members of the incorporated society)
Warrant officers and Chief Petty Officers
If you are a visitor to this site and if you need our help please, do not hesitate to contact us either by email send email or by phone 0044 (0208) 8133 7447
ajs 18/12/2008
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Secondary aims
The secondary aims of LWF are:to provide support services during tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, bush fires, and other natural disasters.
The founding aim
of the "without frontiers" concept was and still is, the "doing of things for others in distress or in need, for little or no reward".