What could he possibly need them for

Would he report them as lost in order to obtain new ones for the children? Could he be trying to get them out of the country?

Yep! I too would be thinking he's planning on fleeing with the kids

How old are they? Is he british? (Although it's not just non brits that try this)

Get legal advice ASAP

This is complex. Get advice.
Undoubtably he will report passports post and apply for new to be sent to him.

Might be “ just because he can “ so you have to report to him and grovel to get permission for holiday. Might be with the intent of taking them abroad - and if it’s the Middle East there may be no legal way of getting them back after ( or they’ll just be vanished with distant family living rurally ) .

Please report all of their passports lost and get new ones. The fact that you are both from the Middle East sets off massive alarm bells for me. If he did take your kids to the Middle East you stand very little chance of getting them back

I'd be very worried in your shoes considering the many issues with custody abductions and the Middle East.

As I said get legal advice ASAP preferably from an organisation with expertise in this particular area

Agreed. The mention of the middle East fills me with fear for you.

Go speak to a solicitor about this. You can apply for a prohibited steps order to stop him removing them from the country as reassurance.

Report them lost yourself OP.

I would speak to the Passport Office for some advice from them and to see if they can log anything on your children’s records. Although if he has parental responsibility, there might be an issue in stopping him.

I knew from the OP there would be somewhere like the Middle East involved. That’s how predictable his actions are.

You need a solicitor and PSO. Urgently.

With the Irish ones you both have to declare and sign the forms to renew in front of witnesses. I would be uneasy about this though as doesn't seem like a reason if you know what I mean

Yes report them as lost, or at least explain what's happened. To both the Irish and British passport offices, assuming he took copies of both.

How old are the children? Does your ex have family in the Middle East still?

Last week he came to the house to see the kids and before he left he asked for the kids passport he said he needs to take copies of them incase I lose the passports and I end up need the passport number.

This doesn’t even make any sense. You can just take copies of them yourself and keep it somewhere safe in case you lose the passports. Why would he need to be involved?

No they can't OP if your ex has parental responsibility as nothing to stop him doing the same about you, though he doesn't need copies of the passports to report them lost either. Please get legal advice ASAP

And had he ever been worried about their passports getting lost before you asked him to leave? Surely he would have already made copies in the years since you’ve had the DC if it was a concern of his.

No this has been prompted by something. Most likely his family suggesting he comes to visit in the Middle East.

Oh gosh I'd worry too. Legal advice seems correct path. Is there any reports of the abuse/ anything to refer to with police?

He can apply without you if he is on their birth certificate, I applied for both my DD’s passports and I’m sure I didn’t need DH’s signature.

You need a solicitor and you need one now, go through the courts, the passport office will not put notes on files from your say so.

Does he have a copy of your signature? He might be forging a letter to say you give permission for him to leave the country with the children.

When is he next due to have contact and is it court mandated contact?

Yep.

It’s very obvious what his plan is OP.

Solicitor and fast!

He can apply without you if he is on their birth certificate, I applied for both my DD’s passports and I’m sure I didn’t need DH’s signature.

I don’t think that’s true as I can’t apply for an Irish passport for my DS without his father (who is absent) signing the form.

I was on about a British passport especially as renewal and not a new application. Not sure Irish rules are the same I’ve never applied for an Irish passport.