This Is Cheshire

ID CARDS WILL NOT BEAT TERRORISM

From the Guardian Series, first published Thursday 4th Oct 2001.

THE Government is considering compulsory ID cards.

The security ëargument' is a flimsy excuse.

ID cards would not have stopped the New York suicide bombers, and will not deter criminals who can easily steal or forge them.

Instead, they will inconvenience millions of ordinary people and threaten our civil liberties.

Ministers have in fact been considering them well before recent events.

Computer Weekly (January 13, 2000) reported that high in the passport agency's priorities was a ëphotocard passport' by 2002, subject to ministerial and European agreement.

Also Government officials undertook to participate ëas necessary' in any work concerning national identity cards and refused to comment on ruling out legislation.

By coincidence, the Government then committed to a Europe-wide programme to introduce personal smart cards - multi-use cards to get NHS treatment, pay for road use, etc.

Where was the public consultation?

The cost of introducing ID cards has been estimated towards £500m plus £100m every year.

That's money that won't be going into public services.

It means foregoing several major new hospitals, tens of thousands of operations and decent pay for our nurses.

After public protest, Australia, New Zealand and the USA all dropped plans for ID cards.

Readers should lobby their Member of Parliament before it's too late.

BRIAN MOONEY

New Alliance

London

info@newalliance.org.uk

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