UK ID cards - A good or a bad thing?

[scott7_0(Prague)]

So what is everyones thoughts on the introduction of ID cards,

I am nether for or against the scheme, I think yes it will help against terrorism, ID fraud and other crimes, but iI do not agree with the fact we have to pay for this card, if the goverment ant us to have ID then we should not have to pay!!

Here in CZ it costs 50czk - 1.30p for a ID card, yet the UK goverment want nearly 100pound for our exact same card - crazy.

Also all UK resident will be required to have one eventually, so thats me excluded as I am CZ resident, so meaning I can come back to the UK anytime and not have to carry ID on me by law!!

So what are your thoughts?

[fergal7]

Anyone who says bad idea needs a good kick up the arse.

So what if it costs a few quid.

This country is being impregnated with the dregs of the world and if it deters a few then its all worth while.

Who are these anonymous fools who said no?

What are your reasons????

[CropleyWasGod]

I cannot see that it will help against terrorism and the likes. Anybody who is serious about committing such crimes will have access to the technology to reproduce the cards. Indeed, since the 7/7 London bombers were British, ID cards would not have prevented them.

Oh, and the "anonymous fools" are actually named on the poll ;0)

[steakbake]

im one of the faceless people who voted no.

everyone else is having to pay simply because our politicians cant run an immigration service.

other reasons - data being lost on a regular basis, the cost, the reasons given for having them.

it is all complete nonsense.

you might have blind faith in the "powers that be", but more fool you!

[fergal7]

I cannot see that it will help against terrorism and the likes. Anybody who is serious about committing such crimes will have access to the technology to reproduce the cards. Indeed, since the 7/7 London bombers were British, ID cards would not have prevented them.

Oh, and the "anonymous fools" are actually named on the poll ;0)

How very dare you sir, Cropley was pesh......:wink:

[fergal7]

im one of the faceless people who voted no.

everyone else is having to pay simply because our politicians cant run an immigration service.

other reasons - data being lost on a regular basis, the cost, the reasons given for having them.

it is all complete nonsense.

you might have blind faith in the "powers that be", but more fool you!

Sorry but I dont know where to look to see who's voted on these polls...... dont even want to.

Dont think its blind faith as you put it. I have lived in countries where its compulsory to have ID and let me tell you that the crime is a lot less prevalent than it is here.

Mind you Liberal was not an option there.

[steakbake]

I lived in Denmark and still have Danish residency and ID card.

I'd trust the danish authorities not to fk up, but not ours.

[CropleyWasGod]

Sorry but I dont know where to look to see who's voted on these polls...... dont even want to.

Dont think its blind faith as you put it. I have lived in countries where its compulsory to have ID and let me tell you that the crime is a lot less prevalent than it is here.
Mind you Liberal was not an option there.

is there a direct connection? Or was it because of the threat of nail-extraction if you crossed the road when the red man was on?

[Hibbyradge]

Undoubtedly a good thing.

Visit my website.

www.identitycardsRus.com

[Removed]

Sorry but I dont know where to look to see who's voted on these polls...... dont even want to.

Dont think its blind faith as you put it. I have lived in countries where its compulsory to have ID and let me tell you that the crime is a lot less prevalent than it is here.

Mind you Liberal was not an option there.

Where?

[Removed]

Anyone who says bad idea needs a good kick up the arse.

So what if it costs a few quid.

This country is being impregnated with the dregs of the world and if it deters a few then its all worth while.

Who are these anonymous fools who said no?

What are your reasons????

Bollocks - a complete waste of money and will do absolutely nothing to change the state of the country and anyone who thinks otherwise is totally naive. The "dregs of the world" as you put it are already here so a piece of plastic with a chip will not deter them from anything, they'll just stick two fingers up and it'll be the law abiding citizens like ourselves who'll end up paying for a complete white elephant.

[Mixu62]

"ID cards don't stop no hi-jacked jets" - Ian Brown

That's a no from me. What would ID cards prove? That your a UK citizen/resident? What are passports and NI numbers for? To stop illegal immigrants from working? How would a card stop dodgy employers from employing them in the first place? And besides, with EU freedom of labour laws, it's not only Brits who are legally allowed to work anyway. Crime? "Oh no, I'd better not burgle that house/steal that handbag/sell that heroin cos I haven't got an ID card". Yeah right.

[Betty Boop]

Not in favour of ID cards, and if they are to be a requirement why should we pay for them? I for one don't trust the Government to keep our information secure, their track record speaks for itself after all. I won't be using an ID card, warm my cell up now! :greengrin

[Hibbyradge]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/11/06/do0601.xml (Interesting article by Tony Blair)

It's quite a lengthy piece so I've cut and pasted the arguments I found most relevant to this thread but do read it all.


I am not claiming ID cards, and the national identity database that will make them effective, are a complete solution to these complex problems. That is the tactic of opponents who suggest that, if their introduction is unable to prevent all illegal immigration or every terrorist outrage, they are somehow worthless. What I do believe strongly is that we can't ignore the advances in biometric technology in a world in which protection and proof of identity are more important than ever.

I also want to see ID cards made compulsory for all non-EU foreign nationals looking for work and when they get a National Insurance number. This will enable us, for the first time, to check accurately those coming into our country, their eligibility to work, for free hospital treatment or to claim benefits.

I am convinced, as are our security services, that a secure identity system will help us counter terrorism and international crime. Terrorists routinely use multiple identities – up to 50 at a time – to hide and confuse. This is something al-Qa'eda train people at their camps to do. It will also help us tackle the problem of identity fraud, which already costs £1.7 billion annually – a figure that has increased by 500 per cent in recent years. Building yourself a new and false identity is all too easy at the moment. Forging an ID card and matching biometric record will be much harder.

However, I believe its benefits go beyond helping us counter problems. Biometric technology will enable us, in a relatively short period of time, to cut delays, improve access and make secure a whole array of services. By giving certainty in asserting our identity and simplicity in verifying it, biometrics will do away with the need for producing birth certificates, driving licences, NI and NHS numbers, utility bills and bank statements for the simple task of proving who we are. A national identity system will quickly become part of the national infrastructure. It should prevent us having to tell every agency individually when we move house.

So these are the benefits against which we have to gauge the disadvantages of introducing a secure national identity system. There are three main lines of attack — the civil liberties argument, effectiveness and cost. I know this will outrage some people but, in a world in which we daily provide information to a whole host of companies and organisations and willingly carry a variety of cards to identify us, I don't think the civil liberties argument carries much weight.

More than two million shoppers in the US already use a "Pay by Touch" system that links their fingerprints to their bank accounts, and a similar system is on trial here in the UK.

The additional cost of the ID cards will be less than £30 — or £3 a year for their 10-year lifespan.

[scott7_0(Prague)]

Anyone who says bad idea needs a good kick up the arse.

So what if it costs a few quid.

This country is being impregnated with the dregs of the world and if it deters a few then its all worth while.

Who are these anonymous fools who said no?

What are your reasons????

I for one can see the advantages of foreign nationals having them, but we UK guys/girls already have an ID card in our passport, but we are not by law required to carry this ID. This must change in order for the ID scheme to work, but again I really do not see why we should be forced to pay for this scheme when we have ID already!!

Over here I am required to carry my passport by law or my residency book (similar to a passport book) and on occasions need to supply police my ID for routine checks either in the car or on foot. This is the part I am for in the UK, people get stopped and have no ID then the hassle starts either the police believe you when you tell them who you are (this is a potential risk) or they don't and you have to them prove this by other means (passport) and if your innocent then a simple law to carry an ID card could prevent all the hassle,

So the more obstacles or measures that are in place then the more chance that some crimes will be prevented, yes I agree that this won't stop plane hijackings, bombs etc, but if this law is introduced then the policy by law to carry British ID's will be a good thing, all the examinations and procedures before you receive this ID could prevent the next terrorist gaining entry to the country, identity fraud or other criminals even thinking about breaking the law.

So for my part I agree with this ID card scheme, but just don’t think the British government should ask us UK citizens to pay 93pounds for it!

[Hibbyradge]

I for one can see the advantages of foreign nationals having them, but we UK guys/girls already have an ID card in our passport, but we are not by law required to carry this ID. This must change in order for the ID scheme to work, but again I really do not see why we should be forced to pay for this scheme when we have ID already!!

Over here I am required to carry my passport by law or my residency book (similar to a passport book) and on occasions need to supply police my ID for routine checks either in the car or on foot. This is the part I am for in the UK, people get stopped and have no ID then the hassle starts either the police believe you when you tell them who you are (this is a potential risk) or they don't and you have to them prove this by other means (passport) and if your innocent then a simple law to carry an ID card could prevent all the hassle,

So the more obstacles or measures that are in place then the more chance that some crimes will be prevented, yes I agree that this won't stop plane hijackings, bombs etc, but if this law is introduced then the policy by law to carry British ID's will be a good thing, all the examinations and procedures before you receive this ID could prevent the next terrorist gaining entry to the country, identity fraud or other criminals even thinking about breaking the law.

So for my part I agree with this ID card scheme, but just don’t think the British government should ask us UK citizens to pay 93pounds for it!


See above.

It will cost £30.

[scott7_0(Prague)]

See above.

It will cost £30.


Minimum would be 30 and max 93!

And why should we pay either?

[Bishop Hibee]

I'm a member of No2id www.no2id.net

I don't trust the state with all my information in one place. Smacks of fascism/communism. Won't stop terrorism. I'll go to jail before I carry an ID card. Like thousands of others.

[Betty Boop]

I'm a member of No2id www.no2id.net

I don't trust the state with all my information in one place. Smacks of fascism/communism. Won't stop terrorism. I'll go to jail before I carry an ID card. Like thousands of others.
Just joined cheers!:greengrin

[hibsdaft]

i am not necessarily that bothered on this depending on how its implimented but they can **** off if they think i am going to pay them £30 (more like £100 imo) just for existing?

is there anything else similar people have to pay directly for which they don't want? i don't think so, tv licence is paying for tv you have a choice on it at the end of the day.

totally unconvinced it will achieve anything either and its going to cost a lot too - much more than they say it will, i suspect. identity theft etc is a big problem but no doubt this will be cheatable before long too

in fact the more and more i think about it the more i think - stupid idea :greengrin

[Swoosh]

Would be all for getting one.
But i wont be paying for it. If they try to charge me i will have to tell them where to go.

I dont have a passport atm as its too costley.

[sleeping giant]

Not in favour of ID cards, and if they are to be a requirement why should we pay for them? I for one don't trust the Government to keep our information secure, their track record speaks for itself after all. I won't be using an ID card, warm my cell up now! :greengrin
I'll be in that cell with you too.

ID cards will be a waste of money. As soon as they are rolled out , some clever fraudster will be offering them on the sly.
Anything can be copied.

Dont want them , dont need them and will not carry one.

[LiverpoolHibs]

So what is everyones thoughts on the introduction of ID cards,

I am nether for or against the scheme, I think yes it will help against terrorism, ID fraud and other crimes, but iI do not agree with the fact we have to pay for this card, if the goverment ant us to have ID then we should not have to pay!!

Here in CZ it costs 50czk - 1.30p for a ID card, yet the UK goverment want nearly 100pound for our exact same card - crazy.

Also all UK resident will be required to have one eventually, so thats me excluded as I am CZ resident, so meaning I can come back to the UK anytime and not have to carry ID on me by law!!

So what are your thoughts?

Well, they didn't helpagainst 11/9 or the Madrid bombings and wouldn't have helped against 7/7, so I'd say the evidence for that is slight.

[Dashing Bob S]

Anyone who says bad idea needs a good kick up the arse.

So what if it costs a few quid.

This country is being impregnated with the dregs of the world and if it deters a few then its all worth while.

Who are these anonymous fools who said no?

What are your reasons????

Anonymous fool here. Totally against them. They've got in the US, and it's really worked stopping crime and terrorism there.

Britain is already a surveillence heavy society and I don't want to be involved in anything that smacks of totalitarianism and Big Brother. I don't trust our government with the security of information and believe they would eventually privatise this service out to profit-making companies with even fewer security safeguards.

USA has the biggest rate of identity theft in the world. I've know several people in California who have been cleaned out by this. It's a massive issue here (i'm current in LA) and its largely down to the ease of access of personal information engendered by the ID culture.

It's a nice thought that it'll stop or bring to justice those who perpetuate everthing from terrorism to neddish behaviour on the streets, but it's simply wishful thinking. A classic case of government trying to con idiots into believing that its doing something to tackle legitimate problems while increasing the state's power over the individual citizen. They can stick their ID cards up their jacksys.

Still a fool, perhaps, in your eyes, but no longer an anoymous one.

[gringojoe]

Bad, very bad. The less the government knows about me the better as they will just lose the information.