Handheld security document scanner

A sensing device for use with a security document, the security document having disposed thereon or therein coded data including a plurality of coded data portions, each coded data portion being indicative of an identity of the security document and a signature part, the signature part being a part of a digital signature of at least the identity, the sensing device including:

• a housing adapted to be held by a user in use;
• a radiation source for exposing a plurality coded data portions;
• a sensor for sensing exposed coded data portion;
• and,
• a processor for;
• determining, using the sensed coded data portions, a sensed identity, a plurality of signature parts, and an identifier for each signature part;
• generating a sensed signature from the plurality of signature parts by arranging signature parts according to respective identifiers;
• determining a generated identity from the sensed signature;
• and
• authenticating the security document by comparing the sensed identity and the generated identity.