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On my day out in the big city this morning I saw a passport had been left on the bench at a bus stop so I figured I better pick it up.
It's for an Ethiopian national so my first thought was to check if there's an Ethiopian consulate in Manchester, which it seems there isn't. So, hand in to police, yes?
Seems a good a place as any. Or post it to the embassy in London but it will probably get lost doing that
conduct some recreational espionage with it. Be sure to get a good hat first.
conduct some recreational espionage with it. Be sure to get a good hat first.
I mean, as much as I'd like a Jason-Bourne-style selection of passports, I don't think any border officials would need to be too eagle-eyed to spot that I am not, in fact, the Ethiopian gentlemen that my proffered passport claimed me to be.
I'd hand in to police & then maybe give the bus company a call to let them know what, where etc. that I'd found it in case they get a lost-property enquiry.
Difficult to know if the information would get to the relevant people, but I'd like to do all that I could to get it back to the owner.
I mean, as much as I'd like a Jason-Bourne-style selection of passports, I don't think any border officials would need to be too eagle-eyed to spot that I am not, in fact, the Ethiopian gentlemen that my proffered passport claimed me to be.
try harder
I mean, as much as I'd like a Jason-Bourne-style selection of passports, I don't think any border officials would need to be too eagle-eyed to spot that I am not, in fact, the Ethiopian gentlemen that my proffered passport claimed me to be.
Obviously - I dropped geography at school but despite that I know that Ethiopia isn't known for its fat, bald, middle aged Audi owning, IT working cyclists.
conduct some recreational espionage with it. Be sure to get a good hat first.
I mean, as much as I'd like a Jason-Bourne-style selection of passports, I don't think any border officials would need to be too eagle-eyed to spot that I am not, in fact, the Ethiopian gentlemen that my proffered passport claimed me to be.
All the spy novels tell you its about confidence not the disguise.
Obviously - I dropped geography at school but despite that I know that Ethiopia isn't known for its fat, bald, middle aged Audi owning, IT working cyclists.
Oi, do you mind!?
As if I'd drive an Audi.
All the spy novels tell you its about confidence not the disguise.
^^ bingo
looking forward to the thread update with some juicy state secrets
Anywhere near Sackville st? if so the guys in the restaurant above the kebab shop will probably know whose it is!
Oi, do you mind!?
As if I'd drive an Audi.
I apologise.
Did you chip it in for payment on an EV, because it's vitally important we look after the environment and air quality, and then spend the rest on a wood burning stove?
I mean, as much as I'd like a Jason-Bourne-style selection of passports, I don't think any border officials would need to be too eagle-eyed to spot that I am not, in fact, the Ethiopian gentlemen that my proffered passport claimed me to be.
try harder
Blacking up is somewhat frowned upon these days
Well, an update. Turns out the Manchester city centre police station is closed 'due to staffing reasons'. Great.
Looks like it's going in the post to the Ethiopian Embassy.
If you have some spare time you could walk around the city holding it up against anyone that looked similar to the photo and asking them for their date of birth?
Turns out the Manchester city centre police station is closed 'due to staffing reasons'
I was hoping for better intel than this but it will have to do
Put a suitcase into a bath, lock yourselft inside it and leave your newly acquired passport casually on the table - will make for a great podcast if the recent similar one I listened to is anything to go by.
Bus company takes responsibility for property on buses.
See if you can talk them into it for a bus stop
The Public Service Vehicles (Lost Property) Regulations 1978
Whoever you hand it into is just going to post it to the embassy anyway so you may as well skip the intermediary and post it straight there.
It will have the owners name on it - maybe try to track them down on that social media thing I've heard about.
Given how poor the postal service is, I'd send it recorded delivery.
Given how poor the postal service is, I'd send it recorded delivery.
Can you lose something that's already lost!? 😂
You could contact people like these to see if they can find the guy via their networks https://manchestercommunitycentral.org/contacts/view/230816 ?
Bus company takes responsibility for property on buses.
See if you can talk them into it for a bus stop
The Public Service Vehicles (Lost Property) Regulations 1978
Or just tell the bus company you found it on one of their buses
Odds on it'll be destroyed where ever you hand it to officially.
Odds on it'll be destroyed where ever you hand it to officially.
Why? I would guess the individual whose passport it is will have reported it lost, so taking a photo of the main page with the person’s photo and emailing it to the embassy would be a good start, along with a tracking number when you send it tracked recorded delivery to the embassy or consulate. That way the embassy knows it’s been found, and can track it, and reassure the owner that they’ll have it back on a given day and time.
You'd think that's how it would work.
Generally If a passport is reported lost its automatically canceled and cannot be reactivated if then found.
Generally If a passport is found and handed in to the police or embassy its destroyed
Both to prevent misuse.
Fallen fowl to both with an international team of clumsy people working with me.
Not specifically Ethiopia hence the odds on part and not specifically stating that's what will happen.
