ID card rollout begins

[Wendy M. Grossman]

PeteM wrote:
> Peter Tomlinson wrote  on 25-09-08 12:16:
>>>
>> I think that it is stronger than that: the intention is that non-EEA 
>> nationals resident here for more than 3 months (or perhaps 6) will 
>> have to carry it at all times, but for now I expect they will have to 
>> produce it within a reasonable time if asked to.
> 
> How will the police know that the person is a non-EEA national, if he is 
> not carrying his card?
> 

This is likely to be a discriminatory part of it, since the most obvious 
way police will do it is guess based on accent, appearance, etc. As it 
happens, I'm American but have an Irish passport - so I'm an EEA 
national but certainly don't sound (or probably dress) like one.

The other thing I'd pointed out (and have been saying publicly for 
years) is that although people get very emotional about compulsory-carry 
laws, any argument about these is a red herring because with biometrics 
incorporated into the card you don't need to require anyone to carry the 
card - just equip the police with handheld reader/verifiers. Very few 
people leave home without their fingerprints or irises.

wg