ID card rollout begins

[Peter Tomlinson]

Matthew Pemble wrote:
> 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?
> How will they know that a non-EEA national is resident here (never 
> mind for more than 3 or 6 months), therefore should have a card and 
> should be carrying it?
I have heard it said that they will start with new people entering. If 
those people have applied to stay for longer than the minimum time, they 
will have to get a card on entry. You can work it out for others already 
here with time limits: either they go and get permission renewed from 
time to time (and a card) or they become illegal.

Inded its a long term programme, and is intended by some to be one part 
of ensuring that eventually everyone with feet on the ground in the EU 
(or EEA, and somehow Switzerland is involved) will be carrying (or able 
to quickly produce) an electronic document that verifies entitlement to 
be here.

Want to bet that, when they get to re-registering airside workers (if 
they get there), 20% of them will melt away? But then air travel will be 
dropping 20%, so what the hell. There is an air of unreality about it all.

Peter