NO2ID News No. 124

4 June 2009

+ POLITICS MAY BE PARALYSED - BUT POLICY GOES ON +

In some newspaper reports of the resignation of Jacqui Smith it has been suggested that it makes a difference to the ID scheme of which she was a "strong supporter". NO2ID doubts that. Ms Smith is the fourth Home Secretary and one of a dozen Home Office ministers we have dealt with, all of whom have pursued the same policy using (allowing for a few changes in spin and timetabling) virtually the same words. The ID scheme is a government policy. It was for decades before that a Home Office ambition. Peter Lilley MP, who was a cabinet minister under both Mrs Thatcher and Mr Major, recalls it being offered "as the remedy for all our ills from crime to shortage of kidney donors".

Now there are two highly paid groups of civil servants in Whitehall, the executives of the Identity and Passport Service, and the Transformational Government team in the Cabinet Office, whose work is built around the implementation and expansion of what they are now promoting as the "National Identity Service". They are the ones writing the cue cards for ministers making speeches on the scheme. It is not going away simply because a new minister is not an enthusiast. The same is true of all the other database-state projects being nurtured by various departments.

What *will* make a difference is a clear change in government policy. Opposition parties are promising that, and a new Labour leader could choose to change direction where Gordon Brown failed. Real policy change requires continuing political pressure from the public. NO2ID will be keeping up that pressure.

Please help us by ensuring everyone you know is aware that the threat has not gone away just because the newspapers have temporarily forgotten it.

What just happened?

+ German privacy video looks at retention of communications data +

German film maker Alexander Lehmann has released a video on YouTube entitled 'You are a terrorist' which highlights the controversial issue of communications data retention across Europe. The video states: "there are more than 82 million terrorists hiding in Germany. You are one of them! For the last 6 months all of your activities have been monitored, for instance: who you call and when, when you use your mobile and where, when and where you access the internet and what sites you are visiting". In the UK the retention of communications data such as emails was snuck through as secondary legislation (The Data Retention (EC Directive) Regulations 2009) in April.
Watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=570WQqye8_Q

+ ID Cards secondary legislation consultation response +

The Home Office has published a response to its consultation on the Identity Cards Act secondary legislation (the detailed regulations which will implement the act). The document states: "This was the latest step in a number of public consultations relating to identity cards where there has been consultation on different aspects of the national identity scheme � now being referred to as the National Identity Service". There were 169 responses to the consultation "including 127 from members of the public and 42 from various organisations". The response overplays what information will go on the actual card, stating: "Respondents were generally content with the information that was proposed to be included on the card with some acceptance of the choice of using the familiar passport standards". What is doesn't dicuss is the large amount of information that will be stored in the database behind the cards.
See http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/downloads/DocC_%20ID_act_secondary_legislation_response.pdf

+ Southampton Students oppose ID scheme +

An anti-ID card motion has been passed by Southampton University Students� Union Council and was approved by 87% of representatives. The resolution means the Students� Union opposes in principle the National Identity Scheme and will not co-operate with it unless required to do so by law. It also mandates that the Union President (who represents approximately 25,000 students) should write to the Home Secretary declaring their opposition. The motion points out: "That the National Identity Scheme will make students liable to pay fines of between £1,000 and £2,500 if they do not adhere to the Scheme�s conditions. (For example, if they do not inform the Government when they move house.)"

+ Lords warn of trouble ahead over DNA database plans +

On Wednesday (3rd June) the House of Lords had a 2nd Reading debate for the Policing and Crime Bill during which the government's plans to retain the DNA of innocent people was discussed. The government has put an enabling power in the bill to make regulations for the retention and destruction of DNA. This would mean that new guidelines would be passed without proper parliamentary debate. Baroness Harris of Richmond said: "These matters should not be dealt with by secondary legislation, especially as the DNA profiles of people not convicted of any offence could be held for up to 12 years. It is imperative that Parliament scrutinises this scheme and ensures that, if amendments need to be made, they will be. That is impossible under this proposal, which should be removed from the Bill".
Read a transcript of the debate at http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2009-06-03a.219.11

What's next?

+ 18th June - NO2ID London Activists Meeting +
Thursday, 18th June from 7pm at 29A Chamberlain House, Phoenix Road, London NW1 1EU (Entrance on Ossulston Street). NO2ID is launching a London-wide activist group to help raise the profile of NO2ID at London events and recruit members to the campaign beyond our usual circles. These events will take the form of quarterly meetings, training sessions and an emailing list. Our first gathering will be a showing of the film �Taking Liberties� followed by a talk and a call to action from Phil Booth, NO2ID�s National Coordinator and DATES FOR ACTION. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come along.

The group will be run through the id-action mailing list - join the list to be kept up to date on the London NO2ID activist group and opportunities to get involved: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/id-action

+ Volunteers needed for Mark Thomas gigs +

Mark Thomas has invited NO2ID to help at some of his shows this year. NO2ID needs volunteers to help out as Mark tours around the country - we still need volunteers for the following gigs: Wellingborough 9th June, Barnstable 12th June, Bridport 18th June, Stockton on Tees 23rd June, Lincoln 24th June, Bath 25th June - email Matty on local.groups@no2id.net if you can help.
For details of gigs see http://www.markthomasinfo.com/section_gigs/

+ Communications Data consultation +
The Home Office has launched a consultation on proposals for the so-called Intercept Modernisation Programme whereby the government wants internet service providers and telecommunications companies data to store details of all UK emails, phone calls and web activity so that public authorities can get hold of that information when they want it. The consultation ends on 20 July 2009.
Full details and how to respond at http://www.tellthemwhatyouthink.org/consultation/con-2217-protecting-public-changing-environment

+ DNA Database consultation +
The government has launched a consultation 'Keeping the right people on the DNA database'. The consultation closes on 7th August - responses can be emailed to (DNAconsultation@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk). For details of the consultation and links to the relevant consultation documents see http://www.tellthemwhatyouthink.org/consultation/con-2255-keeping-right-people-dna-database

+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS +

To see if there's a group in your area check our list at http://www.no2id.net/localGroups/
Or, if you're interested in starting a group yourself, please contact Matty on local.groups@no2id.net to discuss what's involved and what we have in place to support coordinators and their groups.

+ Alexandra Palace +

+ 17th June - Alexandra Palace NO2ID 1st Meeting +
Wednesday, 17 June at 8.15pm at The Gate pub on Station Road, N22 7SS. Directions: The Gate is opposite Alexandra Palace station (overground line) and a short walk from Wood Green tube station (Picadillly Line). The W3 stops outside.(map http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=530331&y=190498&z=0&ar=Y). Everyone is welcome, newcomer or not, curious or committed. Please bring a friend. For more information contact alexandra.palace@no2id.net

If you are interested in the work of the Alexandra Palace group or are planning on attending the meeting please join the mailng list on: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.alexandra-palace

+ Birmingham +

+ 30th June - Birmingham NO2ID Meeting (last Tuesday of month) +
Tuesday, 30th June 7.30pm in the boardroom in Bennett's Bar, Bennett's Hill, B2 5RS. NO2ID Birmingham holds regular monthly meetings on the last Tuesday of the month. This month's meeting will be looking into the European elections.

+ Cambridge +

On 1st June Cambridge NO2ID collaborated with the local branches of Oxfam and Amnesty International to organise a Euro-election husting. The five candidates on the panel (from the Liberal Democrat, UK Independence, Labour, Green and Conservative parties) answered questions on a broad range of issues from global warming to Palestine. Although ID cards are not being forced upon us via the EU, another aspect of the "Database State" is - former Home Secretary Charles Clarke helped push the European Data Retention Directive through the EU Parliament as a way of extending data retention powers in the UK without having them debated at Westminster. This directive forces all telephone and internet companies to store details of every email, phone call and text message sent or received for a full year. Cambridge NO2ID submitted a question on this, and in response all the parties except Labour expressed a desire to roll back the Database State. Even Labour's representative, the party's lead candidate in the Eastern region, said that he was willing to talk to NO2ID in future. If he's elected, we plan to take him up on this offer

+ 6th June - NO2ID Stall at Cambridge Strawberry Fair +
Volunteers needed to man the stall at Cambridge Strawberry Fair for 2 hour shifts from 10am until 6pm: please contact cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew Watson on 07710 469624. We signed up 500 supporters last year - we'd like to improve on that number this year. (Strawberry Fair info: http://www.strawberry-fair.org.uk)

+ 20th June - Cambridge NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 20th June in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall (http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/T5LZATLS) from 10 am. Please contact Andrew on 07710 469624 if you'd like to help.

+ Camden and Islington +

Camden & Islington NO2ID meet on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 8pm at The The Kings Head, 59 Essex Road, Islington, N1 2SF. For more info email camden@no2id.net or join the mailing list at: (http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.camden).

+ Chelmsford and Mid Essex +

+ 27th June - Chelmsford and Mid Essex NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 27th June in the morning in central Chelmsford - we are organising an important stall. Offers of help are appreciated from anyone in Essex. For more information, please contact Felicity direct on londaf1@aol.com

+ Cheltenham +

+ 6th June - Cheltenham NO2ID leafletting (Every other Saturday) +
Saturday, 6th June from 11am 'til 1pm, meet by the Hare on the Prom.

+ 25th June - Cheltenham NO2ID Meeting (last Thursday of each month) +
Thursday, 25th June 7.30pm at The Swan, 37 High Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1DX. All welcome.

If you can make either or both regular slots, it'd be good to see you. If you cannot but would like to be involved in other ways, please either email cheltenham@no2id.net or phone 07802 151464

+ Daventry +

+ 6th June - Daventry NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 6th June in Daventry High Street. For more details contact daventry@no2id.net

+ 10th June - Daventry NO2ID Meeting (2nd Weds of month) +
Wednesday, 10th June 8pm at the Dun Cow, Brook St, Daventry

+ Dorking +

We get together every first Tuesday of the month at the Lincoln Arms, near Dorking mainline station at 7.30pm. On the agenda this month and next will be new street stalls and a discussion on the public meeting in Ewell 9th September. On the panel will be Justice Minister Michael Wills, Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling, Phil Booth plus a LibDem and possible one other. Don�t miss it.

+ Dover +

+ 13th June - Dover NO2ID Street Stall, Folkestone +
Saturday, 13th June from 10am (weather permitting) probably for around 3 hours (give or take one). Location: Sandgate Road pedestrian precinct, by the junction with Westcliff Gardens. In the event that weather does not permit (rain/high winds) we would attempt to go to the following Saturday � 20th June. We have some little enhancements to the stall. All help appreciated. Contact Ian Taylor on (dover@no2id.net). We'd really appreciate some help at 10am as car needs unloading before being taken somewhere legal to park.

+ Edinburgh +

+ 30th June - NO2ID Edinburgh Meeting +
Tuesday 30th June at 7.00pm at the Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL. Members evening: short talks on why many IT professionals are against ID cards, and a brief history of ID cards. Also members' demonstration of robotic street theatre and the premiere of a new ID campaign film. More details at (http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/future_meetings.html). All welcome.

Saturdays 1pm - 3pm - NO2ID Edinburgh street stall
Every week, weather permitting, you will find our campaigning stall at the east end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel. Do drop by for a chat. New volunteers - please contact John (edinburgh@no2id.net), and for more group information see http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/

+ Epsom +

If you want to get in touch, why not come along to the Dorking Group get togethers every first Tuesday of the month at the Lincoln Arms, near Dorking mainline station at 7.30pm. On the agenda this month will be new street stalls and a discussion on the public meeting in Ewell 9th September. On the panel will be Justice Minister Michael Wills, Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling, Phil Booth plus a LibDem and possible one other. Don�t miss it.

If anyone wants to get involved in the Epsom area, please email or phone NO2ID South East Regional Coordinator Geoff Cox on south.east@no2id.net or call 01306 631377.

+ Glasgow +

Glasgow NO2ID meet on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 8pm in Mono. All welcome. Please contact Geraint for further details: glasgow@no2id.net

+ Great Missenden +

+ 6th June - Great Missenden NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 6th June from 10.00 am until 3.00 pm at Chesham market. Please encourage anyone you know to come along. We are hoping to get some local councillors to come and pledge their support.

+ Hammersmith & Fulham +

Please keep diaries free for a talk exposing 'The Surveillance Society' evening of Wednesday, 22nd July. More info shortly.

+ 13th June - Hammersmith & Fulham NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 13th June, 11.00-12.00 (min.). Stall with petitions, leaflets and artwork. 5 mins from Chiswick Park tube. Look for us near the Starbuck's coffee shop, 376 Chiswick High Rd, W4 5TF - map ref: (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=520512&y=178524&z=0&sv=w4+5tf&st=2&pc=w4+5t f&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf). Help from any supporters in West London welcomed. More information from Brian, 07976-414913.

+ Hebden Bridge +

+ 25th June - Hebden Bridge NO2ID Meeting +
Thursday 25th June 7.30pm at the Fox and Goose. Please email hebden.bridge@no2id.net for further information.

+ Ipswich +

Calling Ipswich supporters
On 30th May Cambridge and Norwich NO2ID groups joined forces to run a very successful street stall in Ipswich town centre, garnering over 130 new NO2ID supporters. We'd like to build on this success to re-establish an Ipswich local group. If you live near Ipswich and would be interested in participating in a local group there, please contact Andrew Watson (andrew.watson@no2id.net) or Matty Mitford (local.groups@no2id.net).

+ Kensington and Chelsea +

Kensington and Chelsea no2id will hold a number of stalls this summer:-

+ 13th June - Kensington & Chelsea NO2ID Street Stall, The British Constitution Group Conference +
Saturday 13th June at The British Constitution Group Conference at Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ

+ 20th June - Kensington & Chelsea NO2ID Street Stall, Daily Worker Conference +
Saturday, 20th June 09:30-16:30 at TUC Conference Hall, Congress House, 23-28 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS

+ 21st June - Kensington & Chelsea NO2ID Street Stall, Earl's Court Street Fair +
Sunday, 21st June Earls Court Street Fair

(Unfortunately our most recent Sunday in Portobello Stall was not very successful. We are going to try a Friday in July.)

All offers of help will be gratefully received for Earl's Ct and Portobello and you can get our mugs without having to the pay fiendish P&P.

+ Kingston-Upon-Thames +

If you are interested in the work of the Kingston group please join the Kingston-Upon-Thames mailing list here: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.kingston-upon-thames

+ Leicester +

Update on the Mark Thomas gig: we handed out several dozen leaflets and collected several signatures for our petition so thanks to Jackie and Josh for their help.

+ Manchester +

+ 13th June - Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +
13th June, 2-4pm in St. Ann's Square in Manchester City Centre (down near the big Marks and Spencer), to raise awareness among the public and engage people in discussion about the National Identity Register. We'll be collecting signatures for the NO2ID petition to keep people in touch with the campaign. We'll meet in the square itself at 2pm to set up shop; feel free to join us to lend a hand or just chat. You don't need any experience or equipment, just a bit of time to spare and a friendly smile!

+ 17th June - Manchester NO2ID Monthly Meeting +
Wednesday, 17th June 2009 7pm-9pm in the Town Hall Tavern, Tib Lane, Manchester. Sadly, this venue is not wheelchair-accessible; please contact us on manchester@no2id.net if you have accessibility needs. We are always looking for volunteers to take and type up minutes from our meetings; it's an easy way to help the campaign! The Town Hall Tavern serves reasonably-priced, good quality food until 9pm so you don't need to pop home for tea - you can even order your meal brought up to the function room.
http://manchester.no2id.net/content/monthly-meeting-june-2009

+ Newport +

Newport NO2ID relaunched with a new Coordinator just a month ago and enquiries have been coming in steadily from across South Wales - from west of Cardiff up to Abergavenny and of course Newport itself (Wales has its own ideas about boundaries!). So far we've signed up 15 members, including 2 city council members. Several members have already swung into action as researchers and we've had some friendly interest in response to our initial approach to Welsh Assembly members - one of whom has asked to meet the coordinator of our group. We will be doing a small practice stall in the centre of Newport itself by the end of June, followed by one of the main community festivals of this region in July. Grenya our big fluffy red dragon will be sitting on our stall to encourage interest and comment.

+ 15th June - Newport NO2ID 1st Meeting +
Monday, 15th June, 7pm at House Morgain, Chelston Place, Newport NP20 5LX. Please do put this in your diary and come to meet me/ us. Coffee/ tea/ wine/ beer as you will. You can email Shan Morgain on newport@no2id.net or join the mailing list at (http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.newport).We have a packed agenda. First there is the all important stall planning, including a training event for members unused to doing stalls but interested in doing so. We will also be making plans for a campaign of letter writing to suitable media targets and we'll also be pooling a list of sites to place notices about NO2ID.

+ Norwich +

+ 13th June - Norwich NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 13th June 1pm-3pm at The Haymarket, Gentleman's Walk - so please come along to express your discontent at this expensive and intrusive scheme. It should hopefully be sunny and cheerful, but best bring a brolly and a smile in case! The database state won't just go away if you sit at home.

+ 16th June - Norwich NO2ID Group Meeting +
Tuesday, 16th June 7.30pm-9pm at The Workshop (opposite The Black Horse) on Earlham Road. It's a friendly atmosphere so drop in and join us to discuss how we can build support for the campaign and spread the word further.

+ 22nd June - Mark Thomas - It's The Stupid Economy Stall +
Monday 22nd June sees Mark Thomas bringing his political comedy to Norwich. He has helpfully agreed to let us put a stand up to inform people about the cause, starting 7pm-8pm and then after the show 10pm-11pm approx. For more information contact norwich@no2id.net

If you are interested in the work of the Norwich group, please join their mailing list on: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.norwich

+ Oxford +

+ 25th June - Oxford NO2ID Public Meeting +
Thursday, 25th June 8pm in the Sutro Room at Trinity College. This will feature a series of speakers discussing identity and privacy in the modern age. All welcome. Guests will include: * Robert Buckland (Tory candidate, Swindon South), * Steve Goddard (Lib Dem candidate, Oxford East), * Peter Hitchens (Columnist, Mail on Sunday), * Peter Tatchell (Human Rights Campaigner, Green candidate, Oxford East), * Glyn Wintle (Open Rights Group)

See the website for more: http://no2id-oxford.org.uk/

+ Sheffield +

+ 6th June - Sheffield NO2ID at Peace in the Park, Ponderosa +
Saturday, 6th June at the Ponderosa, Netherthorpe (see http://web.peaceinthepark.org.uk/)

+ 10th June - Sheffield NO2ID Meeting +
Wednesday, 10th June at 7.30pm at The Harlequin Pub, 108 Nursery St, Sheffield, S3 8GG (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=s3+8gg).

+ Shrewsbury +

+ 27th June - Shrewsbury NO2ID lunch club and street stall +
Saturday, 27th June - Come for lunch at Rococo in Butcher Row at 12.30pm (look for NO2ID fliers on the table), and then join us on the street stall in Pride Hill. If you let Rob Findlay know that you're coming (shrewsbury@no2id.net or 07973 848910) then we can grab enough table space for everybody.

+ Southampton +

Southampton NO2ID holds a regular monthly meeting and plotting session on the first Wednesday of the month at 8:00pm in the Dolphin Pub next to St Denys railway station

Southampton NO2ID Street Stalls
We are keen to move the stall to different locations in and around Southampton. If you would like to have a stall near you, then please get in touch with the group via southampton.no2id@gmail.com.

+ York +

+ 6th June - York NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 6th June 10.30 am in Parliament Street

"ID" in the news

+ Airport ID cards only for the newbies - The Register 4/6/09 +
The trial of ID cards for airside workers at City of London and Manchester airports will be a slightly slower process than we imagined. The cards will only be mandatory for new staff, not for all pilots and staff working at the airports. The Home Office reckon this was always the case and we remembered wrongly - we bow to their semantics and long memories.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/04/id_card_limits/

+ BMA leader calls for NPfIT to be scrapped - e-Health Insider 3/6/09 +
One of the leaders of the British Medical Association has described the NHS IT programme as "the worst case of planning blight across the NHS" and called for it to be ended.
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/4900/bma_leader_calls_for_npfit_to_be_scrapped

+ ID database snooped for celebrities' secrets - The Inquirer 3/6/09 +
The two Glasgow staff were caught snooping on people in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Customer Information Systems (CIS) database, which includes among its 85 million records the personal details about everyone in the UK, and which the Identity and Passport Service plans to use as the foundation of the national ID scheme.
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1184506/id-database-snooped-celebrities-secrets

+ Jacqui Smith departure causes speculation over ID cards - Computing 3/6/09 +
Westminster speculation has raised a new question mark over the future of the government's flagship identity card scheme, following news of the forthcoming departure of home secretary Jacqui Smith.
http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2243417/jacqui-smith-departure-brings

+ U-turn on airport ID cards - Public Servant Daily 2/6/09 +
As part of the initial roll-out of ID cards, the government announced plans - called the critical worker identity card (CWIC) scheme - for all those in sensitive roles at airports to be issued with an identity card. But when Home Secretary Jacqui Smith officially launched an early-adopter scheme for the citizens of Manchester in May, a much smaller announcement was made changing the rules of the CWIC scheme.
http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=9644

+ UK at Number 5 in global list of most repressive regimes - Telecom TV 2/6/09 +
A new report, from the Internet security company, Cryptohippie, puts the UK at Number Five in the list of the world's most repressive regimes in terms of the electronic surveillance of its citizens.
http://www.telecomtv.com/comspace_newsDetail.aspx?n=45031&id=e9381817-0593-417a-8639-c4c53e2a2a10

+ Camera grid to log number plates - BBC News Online 22/5/09 +
A national network of cameras and computers automatically logging car number plates will be in place within months, the BBC has learned. Thousands of Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras are already operating on Britain's roads.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/whos_watching_you/8064333.stm

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor(newsletter@no2id.net) )

Publication details: © NO2ID 2010 - This document may be freely redistributed in one-to-one communications or physical copies as long as it is reproduced in its entirety including this notice. It may not be mass-mailed without the prior permission of NO2ID.
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