What you need to know about ID cards

ID cards have come to the UK. So far, it’s just for so-called foreign nationals, but if the government continues to have its way, by 2012 British citizens will be lining up to be fingerprinted.

The results of most polls on the subject seem to reflect the opinion of whoever commissioned the survey, suggesting more about modern polling standards than what we all really think about ID cards.

Still, there hasn’t been a huge uproar or walk-outs or demonstrations. Are British people okay with identity cards and the connected massive database? Or are they simply unaware of what it all means?

One of the government’s loudest critics has been lobby group NO2ID – and it believes the latter. “What’s happening… will come as a huge shock to a lot of people,” said general secretary Guy Herbert to IT PRO.

“It’s very, very clear that the more people know, in our common experience, the more against it they tend to be,” he said. “As public consciousness of the scheme has grown… then the figures in favour have fallen.”

He compared the issue to the poll tax, saying that once the letters hit peoples’ doorsteps, the scheme became “hugely unpopular.”

With that in mind, here’s what we know about the ID card and registry scheme so far, based on Home Office press releases, briefing sessions, and websites – and the same from their most vocal critic, NO2ID.

One thing to note, however – all of the legislation regarding the British ID card is not yet passed through parliament, so some of this is subject to change. In fact, the Home Office is holding a 12-week consultation on the draft legislation; if you want to push for change, details are available here.

Foreign nationals first, please
The rollout is in several stages, and there are indeed two separate cards planned. The first is being released by the Borders Agency to foreign nationals; the second is being developed for British citizens by the Identity and Passport Services. Both bodies are part of the Home Office, and the cards will be essentially interoperable.

But what’s a foreign national? That lovely term is what the government uses to describe anyone living in the UK under a visa – so those people who come here to study, work or marry.

Jacqui Smith said earlier this month: “As identity cards begin rolling out, starting later this month with foreign nationals, we will quickly see that a single, convenient and secure way of proving who someone is will bring real benefits to this country.”

The idea is that any foreigner wishing to work will have to show one of these cards – although it is already a requirement to show a work permit or visa to be able to work at the moment.

At the time, Phil Booth, NO2ID’s national coordinator made a fairly good point. "To suggest ID cards are somehow connected to immigration policy Jacqui Smith is deliberately engaging in populist bullying of the soft targets – anonymous individuals seeking marriage visas or education – those who have no choice but to keep quiet and comply. All resident foreigners is a different matter. When it comes round to fingerprinting Madonna and her family, say, such tactics will backfire.”

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