The premise put forward by the PMA ( Photo Marketing Association ) is as follows -
"The Current Threat
Agreements between the
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority and the
Post Office have resulted in 750 Post Offices up and down the country installing booths to capture portraits and signatures electronically and process applications for Drivers Licences on-line without the need for a paper portrait.
The
DVLA is entering a new phase where all licences will have to be renewed every ten years. This in effect means the capturing of 2.4 million portraits each year.
Applications for licence renewal can be made at the designated post office on-line or by post when a paper portrait will be required. The
DVLA highlights the on-line process in its application materials and seems to steer the applicant toward the PO rather than by post. The effect of this is that in time the number of paper portraits for
DVLA purposes will decline.
At the same time as this is happening the
UK Border Agency is also steering applicants for residents' permits for foreign nationals to the PO on-line process.
How many businesses and individuals will be affected:
• 350 number of shops at risk in the UK
• 5,000 number of jobs at risk in the UK
• £50 million amount of revenue the sector will lose if current policies do not change.
The PMA believes that a pragmatic, cost-effective solution is possible through a greater co-existence between the Post Office and private sector printed photographic network.
A reappraisal of the 2009 decision would allow for a sustainable business model to be developed taking into account the needs of the DVLA, the Post Office and the private sector photographic market.
Post Office staff could be allowed to scan printed ID photographs from the existing printed professional market as opposed to Post Office staff taking the actual photographs. This would have no adverse impact on Post Office counter jobs."
http://www.savethephotographers.co.uk/
