Identity cards, good idea or civil infringement?

Question

Please explain your answer.

Answer 1

Civil Infringement.
There are 3 main reasons for supporting them

1: Terrorism. ID cards will not show intent. The Madrid bombers had ID cards. It didn't stop them, as we all know.

2: Illegals working. So a builder need some casual work for a couple of days off the books? He is not going to check for "papers".

3: Crime prevention/detection This is one of the most sinister things any government. What about Intelligence led policing, instead of random dragnets of the entire population? Yes no doubt, you'd like the polices job to be easier..get rid of stuff like due process, evidence, trials...

I hope you see this for what it is.

I'll see you in jail, comrade.

Answer 2

Identity cards are seen by many as an infringement and yet there is the good side to it which so many have not thought about.

The huge and growing problem of child abuse that goes on within the care system is a huge problem because the abusers skip from one area to another and cant be tracked because they can change their names at leasure. They can lie about thier details and do go onto re abuse. Then there are child abusers not in the care system that also cant be tracked and apply to various places that care for children and schools, or transport, dr's etc.

If there was an ID card with a system that clearly supports it then for children in care and victims of abuse it could prevent a child abuser hopping from one social services or area.

Maybe if there were such a compromise so that anyone looking after children, involved with any form of child care or even Old age pensioners or vunerable adults including those with mental health problems etc it really could be beneficial in weeding out and prevent abusers wreaking havock because they will be easier to notice because if they go to for example to a different social services and apply for a job and are still being investigated in a different area then they will be caught out because they will have to use their ID card and if they dont have one it should be made compulsory for anyone applying for a job working with children, OAP and anyone vunerable to have an ID card.

I am prepared to lose a little of my privacy if it does good in the long run and lets not forget it will also help when we have new people coming to the country with a veiw to bombing us and will also help towards benefit fraud and the list goes on.

The questions needed to be asked are

Will we benefit, will vunerable children benefit, will it prevent or help towards a safer UK?

ID cards are not just about our privacy. Finger printing and iris checks in an ID card would be good. For the few it lets slip through the net it is far outweighed by the good it will do with those whom dont get through the net.

This a free country, too free and thats why we now have such serious problems. Violence, bombings, benefit fraud and who pays for it?

Answer 3

Identity cards are seen by many as an infringement and yet there is the good side to it which so many have not thought about.

The huge and growing problem of child abuse that goes on within the care system is a huge problem because the abusers skip from one area to another and cant be tracked because they can change their names at leasure. They can lie about thier details and do go onto re abuse. Then there are child abusers not in the care system that also cant be tracked and apply to various places that care for children and schools, or transport, dr's etc.

If there was an ID card with a system that clearly supports it then for children in care and victims of abuse it could prevent a child abuser hopping from one social services or area.

Maybe if there were such a compromise so that anyone looking after children, involved with any form of child care or even Old age pensioners or vunerable adults including those with mental health problems etc it really could be beneficial in weeding out and prevent abusers wreaking havock because they will be easier to notice because if they go to for example to a different social services and apply for a job and are still being investigated in a different area then they will be caught out because they will have to use their ID card and if they dont have one it should be made compulsory for anyone applying for a job working with children, OAP and anyone vunerable to have an ID card.

I am prepared to lose a little of my privacy if it does good in the long run and lets not forget it will also help when we have new people coming to the country with a veiw to bombing us and will also help towards benefit fraud and the list goes on.

The questions needed to be asked are

Will we benefit, will vunerable children benefit, will it prevent or help towards a safer UK?

ID cards are not just about our privacy. Finger printing and iris checks in an ID card would be good. For the few it lets slip through the net it is far outweighed by the good it will do with those whom dont get through the net.

Answer 4

A couple of years ago I went to Slovakia for 2 weeks which is a low office country or something like that and is lawfully illegal to move around without identification. This meaning an ID card if you're a citizen or a passport/travel document if you're a tourist. The problem is that Britain is not a low office country and shouldn't stoop to such a low level just to stop terrorists from striking.

Answer 5

It depends on your goal. Identification cards are security devices and all security requires trade offs. Is the increased security worth the cost.

The main reason the U.S. wants a national id card is to increase security against terrorists. But nothing about id cards can stop a terrorist attack. Most of the 9/11 hijackers had valid U.S. drivers licenses.

Id's can help in punishment. If we know who committed a crime we can go after them for prosecution.

But they also introduce lots of security problems. Where do we store the ID database? How do we secure it? Who can get to it? How do we provide secure access to the database for states, federal government? How much will this cost? Is there something we can do with the money that will make us safer?

I don't think the benefits are worth the risks.

Answer 6

ID cards are a civil infringement, and a huge waste of money. We all have forms of ID already (Driver License, passport etc.) I think it's all part of a joined-up plan including the Road Pricing policy, to constantly monitor our activities and errode our civil liberties. Think about it, the government will now where we are/have been at all times, and we would be compelled to produce our ID at any time it was requested. Starting to sound like a police state?

Answer 7

As far as I know, we are the only country in Europe where the citizens don't have an ID card.

As a police officer I was "had over" dozens of times over the years by people who gave false ID and thus got away with various misdemeanours.

Think about it - your ID as a driver is your driving licence, your ID as British abroad is a passport - does anyone feel either of them is a civil infringement? Of course not, so why not, like everyone else in Europe, have a card that identifies you as a citizen?

Answer 8

Bad Idea !
As the original concept is based on the assumption that people would only obtain an I.D. card by applying for one, answering the questionnaire truthfully, submitting genuine documentary proof as to whom the the applicant claims to be etc.etc.

In this land of Identity Fraud, where it oh-so-simple to obtain :- Falsified Birth/Marriage Certificates, Driving Licenses, Passports,M.O.T'S, Educational Qualifications,Illegal Drugs, Guns & even Honours for cash:

The government will as usual underfund the scheme only being able to monitor the majority of 'Law-Abiding' citizens with every right to reside within the U.K. Who having fully complied with I.D. card requirements, have never or never will attempt to defraud the system or pose a threat to National security!

However the Criminal, Terrorist elements, & Illegal Entrants into the U.K. will simply incur a higher expense than previously experienced to gain the new 'High-Tech' {Foolproof} I.D. card that allows them access wherever they wish to go, with the bonus of proven identity to fund by claiming various State Benefits: their illegal status or nefarious intentions. I.d. Cards will become the most Saleable item on the U.K.'s black market!

Answer 9

I have no objection at all. The people who object will have their reasons and all those should be considered on merit but as a law abiding man of 66 years, what have I to worry about? The Authorities know I have a Dental Record, a Doctor's Record, a Driving Licence, a Passport etc so they already know me well. What it might achieve is to identify those in our country who should not be here, those whom are wanted for some criminal activity or who just object.

Answer 10

Good idea. They will take the need of a passport for travel to Europe for us Brits and be better in proving who you are to police and so on. I think they will assist people and not infringe any rights