I was just wondering if anyone could enlighten me as to why it is that when travelling abroad, it is usually the custom to hand at least one Passport in to Reception which they then keep overnight. I've got used to this now, but a Passport is a very important document and if it fell into the 'wrong' hands, what is there to stop it being cloned?

I've also understood this to be something to do with the Hotel checking you out with the Local Police, but what I cannot uunderstand is that if that is the case, why is it that you only need to hand over one passport from your party? I mean how do they know that the person who did not hand their passport over may be a 'problem' guest (for want of a better description).

Maybe this practice has nothing to do with Police Checks, but we do not do that over here in the UK, or do we?