GOVERNMENT'S IDENTITY CRISIS

16-10-2006

Birmingham MP and Home Office Minister Liam Byrne confirmed inparliament the other daythat ID cards will berolled out from 2008. Theprice? A mere £5.4 billion. But at what cost to our liberty asks Derrick Campbell from Race Equality Sandwell.

With the impending introduction of ID cards, the question that needs to be asked is, "Why do we need them?”

Concerns have been raised by many black and minority groups who feel that they will be singled out and penalized by their introduction. There is already a disproportionate level of stop and search of black people by the police, and this seems like another way of controlling the movements and whereabouts ofpeople in this country.

We already havethe highest concentrationof CCTV cameras in the world, soit already feels like we are becominga police state with Big Brother watching every move you make. Yes I understand the benefits of crime fighting, but where do we draw the line on encroaching civil liberties?

Some that will say, "if you are not guilty, you should have nothing to worry about,.” But the truth is,I do worry.I don't want to feel that every move I make is recorded. This is a form of intrusion on my personal freedom to roam the realm and I think it should be managed with that in mind.

Where will this intrusion stop? And what will be next- apersonal tracking device and electronic chip? Oh ..sorry, I forgotmostof usalready have one of those already. It's calleda mobile phone. Satellite tracking of all our cars in the name of congestion charging is also being mooted, so keeping tabs on us has never been easier.

The government has claimed that ID cards will stop or at least go along way towardspreventing terrorism, butthey will need to be far more convincing when trying to sell the idea. We already haveso many markers of identity as it is, withdriving licences, passports, credit and visa cards, etc.

So are these hugely expensive cards really being introduced for the greater good. Oris there a more sinister move a foot?I would really like to know.

Share Derrick's concerns about ID cards? Or are they harmless tools to deal with the threat of terrorism. Leave a comment on our messageboard.