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ID cards vital in war on terrorism, says UK Home Secretary

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, April 26, IRNA -- Home Secretary David Blunkett Monday argued 
his case for the introduction of a national identity card scheme in 
the UK by saying it was essential to prevent Britain from becoming a 
"soft touch" for terrorists. 
He warned that if the government did not act, Britain would fall 
behind the rest of the developed world in measures to combat 
terrorism, leaving the country vulnerable to attack. 
His warning came as the Home Office was presenting a draft 
legislation outlining plans for a national ID card scheme, starting 
with a pilot trial of the use of "biometric" technology, involving 
10,000 volunteers. 
Civil rights groups and other critics have warned that the 
introduction, which includes the setting up of a national database of 
fingerprints and iris scans, would be expensive, would not deter 
terrorist attacks and would infringe basic liberties. 
Speaking on BBC radio, Blunkett acknowledged that he was putting 
his "political neck on the block" with the proposals that are aimed 
at making ID cards compulsory within seven to 10 years, but insisted 
that Britain would fall behind if it did not start now. 
"Those who don`t secure biometric identity through their passport 
visa and ID card system will be known by the terrorists to be the 
easiest touch," he said. This was why Britain needed to be "ahead of 
the game," he added. 
The Home Secretary accepted that the scheme would have to show 
that it was effective in combating terrorism and other forms of 
crimes if parliament was to vote to make ID cards compulsory, but 
said that he was confident it would be the case. 
Controversy in Britain has also raged over who would cover the 
estimated 3.1 billion pnds (dlrs 5.5b) cost of introducing the scheme,
with the government`s latest plans to pay for it by increasing the 
price of passports. 
The civil rights campaign group Liberty has accused the government
of effectively introducing an "identity tax" when it has yet to show 
any competency of managing database schemes. 
HC/LS/210 
End