Report - Guardian

44 The LSE Identity Project Report: June 2005and are equipped with legitimate identification cards (such as thosewho carried out the Madrid bombings).Of the 25 countries that have been most adversely affected byterrorism since 1986, eighty per cent have national identity cards, onethird of which incorporate biometrics. This research was unable touncover any instance where the presence of an identity card system inthose countries was seen as a significant deterrent to terrorist activity.At a theoretical level, a national identity card as outlined by the UKgovernment could only assist anti-terrorism efforts if it was used by aterrorist who was eligible and willing to register for one, if the personwas using their true identity, and if intelligence data could beconnected to that identity. Only a small fraction of the ninety millioncrossings into the UK each year are supported by comprehensivesecurity and identity checks.”Crucially, the Bill also contains a fundamental condition that nullifies most of its effortsto support counter-terrorism. David Blunkett has told the Home Affairs Committee thatin order to prevent the creation of “ID card martyrs” 66 the government would not makeit a criminal offence to refuse to be registered for a card. Instead, refuseniks would beliable for a civil penalty. In view of some entrenched hostility to the scheme, perhapsthis approach makes tactical – and politically essential - common sense. However, somecritics have pointed out that wealthy people 67 or those backed by criminal organisationscan avoid an ID card or registration simply by paying the recurring £2,500 fine. Thisfine could effectively become a tax on criminals and terrorists operating in the UK.Of equal significance is the admission by the Home Office that visitors to the UK whoare entitled to a stay of three months or less will not be required to apply for a card.The government appears to be incrementally backing away from its original assertionthat the card system would be a tool to directly prevent terrorism. In a recent pressbriefing, Home Office minister Des Browne said: “It (the ID system) does not stop it butit helps you police it and interdict it”. 6866 Home Affairs Committee, May 4, 2004,http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmhaff/130/4050405.htm.67 ‘There's only one way ID cards won't be abused’, Sam Leith, Daily Telegraph, December 3, 2004,http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2004/12/03/do0303.xml.68 ‘ID cards: this is not a big brother database’, Andy McCue, Silicon.com, December 1, 2004,http://management.silicon.com/government/0,39024677,39126226,00.htm.