Last week Lesley Broadwood for the IOC joined a discussion session with the Home Office to discuss its proposals for knife licensing. This week she has prepared the formal submission on consultation for age check at door during delivery. It is clear that Government is proposing mandatory age verification, which will require customers to present a UK passport or photo driving licence at the point of delivery. IOC add photo ID can be challenge and propose a utility bill at door should be in the arsenal of checks. Does the utility bill at door correspond to the person details on the delivery? Does the utility bill align to ID of the person who was challenged at e-retail point of sale?
The Institute of Couriers response to Home Office – We believe that the scope of this consultation, which focuses on introducing a licensing scheme for the sellers and importers of knives and bladed articles, is too narrow. Retail is not simply about the sales of goods. Today an integral part of sales is online and connects sale to the delivery of those goods - the e-retail promise to deliver goods to the customer brings challenge to sale at door. This consultation has not considered how the proposed new measures will impact on logistics service providers who make that delivery
The Express Logistics sector recognises the importance of age verification at the point of delivery. The majority of IOC members undertake proof-of-age checks within their existing delivery business models. However, we are genuinely concerned about proposals which will require customers to provide photo ID in the form of a passport or driving licence at the point of delivery, as we know that a significant minority of the adult population have no form of photo ID. The impact will be stopped delivery and return of goods to retailer.
Some of our members have indicated that proof-of-age checks on delivery will incur costs to their businesses. Such costs are likely to involve the provision of additional training to meet the requirements of the new legislation and the updating of delivery devices.
Taking a lens on the delivery of knives, IOC asked fellows at round table for input and will be attending consultation on Feb 5th
At round table Q1 January in Guildhall IOC fellows spoke easy mandatory adaption of age challenge if it comes to door delivery.
They said impact of mandatory age change at door would be low on the present business model of final mile.
While forty per cent were neutral, sixty per cent said 'There will be an impact to costs for delivery when age challenge at door becomes mandatory'..
Express final mile brands were split fifty-fifty on having age challenge data collected on their existing hand-held devices at the door.
