Free test for Basingstoke driver candidate after photo refusal

A learner driver, who was refused a driving test because the examiner said his face did not match the photo on his provisional licence, has been offered a free retest.

Yin Cheong William Shen, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, raised concerns about unconscious bias in identity checks following the examiner’s decision in November.

His case was supported by his driving instructor and by Basingstoke MP Luke Murphy.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which has not acknowledged any error, said it would offer Shen a free retest this week.

Shen previously said the examiner’s refusal left him “confused”.

He said: “It’s the same photo as my passport, which caused no issues when I travelled this year.”

His instructor Stephen Lambert said the examiner’s decision was an “insult”.

In a letter to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, Murphy said research showed facial recognition errors “can disproportionally affect individuals from certain ethnic backgrounds”.

The Labour MP said the incident reflected “wider public concern about the consistency and fairness of identity checks at test centres”.

In a letter shown to the BBC by Shen’s brother, a DVSA complaints officer said: “We do not tolerate any form of discriminatory behaviour including bias.

“We must take any threat of fraud through impersonation very seriously.

“It is clear that you feel you have not received the level of customer service you have every right to expect, and… on this occasion I am authorising a free retest for you.”