Its not illegal to photocopy a passport, unless you use the copy for nefarious purposes. The Passport Agency encourage you to keep a copy in case you lose your original . . .
Your employer is ensuring that they comply with legislation regarding unlawful employment:
"Under the 2006 [Immigration, Asylum and Nationality] Act, you will be able to have the statutory excuse for your prospective employees by checking and copying one, or a specified combination, of original documents. In all cases, the excuse must be established before the employment begins."
Same for current employees.
(Cotsan, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 9:42, 2 replies)

This country is going to the fucking dogs.

( stuj (^(^;;^)^) GO TEAM SPIDERS!(^(^;;^)^), Fri 18 Jun 2010, 9:46, closed)

ONLY...
I repeat...ONLY before employment.
otherwise they can't. It would be of no use to them after employment.

and the ONLY current employees they can get them off are known non UK peeps and this they can do every year, checking if they still have the right to work.

I see you added on the
'Same for current employees' part yourself : D
( --- ---, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 20:44, closed)