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It seems clear that it is easy enough to acquire a fake passport (just try searching for "fake passport" on-line and see how many sites offer this "service"). If a passport can be faked, then any rematerialisation of land or charge certificates will be little help in the face of forgers faking them when they want to (it will be worse, because the paper certificate will give property owners a false sense of security).

The answer is simple - sign up, free of charge, for the Land Registry's property alert service. Then you will get an email alert whenever some registration-related event happens, such as an application for an official copy or an official search. If someone is trying fraudulently to deal with your property, you will know about it and be able to alert the Land Registry to the potential fraud (who can in turn alert the applicant for OCs or OSs that the property owner knows nothing about any intended dealing). I recently paid off my mortgage and can confirm that the system works, as I received an alert related to the lender's electronic discharge of the mortgage. Not a problem in my case, but I will know if someone tries to sell my property over my head.