Why is a girl’s picture on my driving licence? (From Worcester News)

Why is a girl’s picture on my driving licence?

7:00pm Saturday 5th June 2010 in Local By Tarik Al Rasheed

PHOTOGRAPH: Mitchel Dallimore with the driving licence. Picture by Carsten Evans. 22963104.

TEENAGER Mitchel Dallimore had an unwelcome surprise as he eagerly unwrapped his first provisional driving licence – only to find the face of a complete stranger staring back at him from the photocard.

Although Mr Dallimore’s name and address are correct on the licence received from the DVLA, the pupil from Hanley Castle High School, near Malvern, was shocked to find a stranger’s signature and a picture of a young woman staring back at him from the photocard.

Mr Dallimore, from Pendock, near Upton-on-Severn, sent off his application for a provisional licence in good time as he plans to take his first driving lessons when he turns 17 in August.

However aside from the obvious inconvenience of having to go through the application process again, his mother Judi is concerned about the security of her son’s personal information.

“I am disgusted with the DVLA. They said sorry over the phone but then a letter turned up with no word of ap- ology whatsoever,” she said.

DVLA spokesman Elayne Phillips said: “We are looking into the problem.”