NO2ID News No. 103

31 July 2008

++ ALL CHARGES AGAINST NO2ID PROTESTORS DROPPED ++

Last week the Procurator Fiscal (Scottish public prosecutor) dropped all charges against the nine NO2ID campaigners who were arrested in Edinburgh at the end of June. The nine were arrested after they staged a peaceful protest at an invitation only Home Office so-called "public consultation" and were due to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff's Court on 24th July; but just hours before the hearing the case was closed and all charges were dropped.

The campaigners would like to thank everyone who sent messages of good will and money to support their legal defence. Leftover funds will be used to help NO2ID continue to campaign against the national identity scheme.

+ GOVERNMENT MAKE CLAIM OF UNION BACKING FOR ID CARDS +

The government claimed this week that "the unions have backed ID cards". The declaration came after Labour?s National Policy Forum held at the University of Warwick. However we'd like to know precisely what that "backing" consists of.

Several large unions have been very sceptical in the past, some are actually affiliated to NO2ID and a few of the others have previously shown an interest in affiliation. Last week members of the Public and Commercial Service Union staged strikes at passport offices around the country, blaming ID cards software for passport service job cuts. Whilst unions representing airline workers have expressed their opposition to issuing ID cards to airport workers next year. So what is this so called backing?

If you are a union members perhaps you can ask your union if they were consulted and if not why not?

The TUC conference will take place in Brighton 8th - 11th September at the Brighton Centre and we intend to have a NO2ID presence there. Our Union Liaison, Christina Zaba (union.liaison@no2id.net) has written a piece in the current edition of Modern Government highlighting the fact that the Identity Cards Act 2006 introduces sentences of up to 10 years for taking industrial action affecting the register. If you can help us at the TUC conference or you have further information from your union on the "backing" then please contact Christina at union.liaison@no2id.net

What's next?

+ 1st August - 'Dorothy Night' exploring Identity - Royal Festival Hall +
Friday, 1st August 10pm at the Royal Festival Hall (Clore Ballroom), free admission. A collaboration between Nathan Evans and David Hoyle as part of a series of 'Dorothy Nights' to accompany the main house production of The Wizard Of Oz. Amongst other things it will involve an Emerald City which - in a distortion of gatekeeper scenes of the film - is only enterable with ID cards. Punters can choose to print a card with a 'faceless bureaucrat' to enter the main auditorium past the armed guard, stay on the peripheries or infiltrate the city 'illegally'. We will, of course, be encouraging them to destroy these cards later in the show and perhaps even sign the NO2ID pledge.

+ 14th August - NO2ID London Social +
We will be having another NO2ID social on Thursday 14th August 2008 from 6.30pm.
It will be at The Old Crown, 33 New Oxford Street, WC1H 1BH. (please note, it's not at The Crown but The *Old* Crown). Meet the organisers, ask questions, get involved, have a pint. Everyone is welcome whether a member, supporter, sympathiser or even Home Office minister.
Enquires to Harry Metcalf: london@no2id.net

+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS +

We now have local groups in 44 of the 69 proposed locations for interrogation centres - of which just 3 have yet to open. Parliamentary answers indicate that the most active centres are: Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Newport, Peterborough and Sheffield.

For information on your nearest interrogation centre, see www.no2id.net/getInvolved/idCentres.php. If you can help set up a local group in one of the remaining locations, or anywhere else in the UK, please contact Matty on local.groups@no2id.net

+ Bradford +

+ 13th August - Bradford NO2ID Meeting (2nd Wednesday of the month) +
Every second Wednesday of the month 6:30pm at Bradford Resource Centre, 17-21 Chapel Street, Bradford, BD1 5DT.

+ Bristol +

+ 6th August - Bristol NO2ID meeting +
Wednesday, 6th August 7-8pm at White Bear on St Michael's Hill. Come and meet your friendly local campaigners. If you'd like to keep up to date with what the Bristol group is getting up to, please join the mailing list at http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.bristol

+ Cambridge +

+ 2nd August - NO2ID Cambridge Stall +
Saturday, 2nd August at 10am in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall. Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/eo42r. As ever, volunteers to help very welcome - please email cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624 if you can make it.

+ 6th August - Cambridge NO2ID pub meeting (1st Wednesday of each month) +
Wednesday, 6th August 7.30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd, Cambridge CB1 2DW (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cb1+2dw). For more details contact cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624.

+ Camden & Islington +

+ 3rd August - Camden and Islington NO2ID Stall +
Sunday, 3rd August 10am-2pm at Islington Farmers Market. Contact Matty on camden@no2id.net if you can attend.

+ 4th August - Camden and Islington NO2ID Meeting +
Monday, 4th August at 8pm. We'll be at our new(ish) venue, The Castle, 54 Pentonville Road, London. We'll try and sit at the big table on the top level at the back of the pub - if not just look for the table with the NO2ID flyers. Nearest tube is either Angel or Kings Cross. (http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/clubs_bars/venue-2471.php)

+ Dorking +

+ 5th August - Dorking NO2ID Meeting (1st Tuesday of month) +
Tuesday, 5th August 7.30pm at the Lincoln Arms by Dorking mainline station. Street stalls, a public meeting and a local council motion against ID are all ongoing. New members are always welcome.

+ 25th September - Question Time on ID Cards and the Database State +
We have 2 guest speakers to put the case against ID Cards at our Sept 25th public meeting (Paul Beresford MP and Dr Edgar Whitley of the LSE), but still none to put the case against.

+ Edinburgh +

Edinburgh Festival play about ID cards
Kali Theatre will be performing 'Another Paradise' at Venue 112 (clubWest, Nicolson Street) from 3rd-25th August. The play is set in Leamington Spa "at a time when Identity Cards are compulsory and people are validated only by their digital ID in the National Identity Database". Described as "a witty and satirical look at a highly controversial government policy that will soon have a deep and far reaching effect on our everyday lives".
More info at http://www.kalitheatre.co.uk/whatson/Another_Paradise.htm

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 +

+ 20th August - Epsom NO2ID Meeting +
Wednesday, 20th August 7.30pm at the Assembly Rooms (Weatherspoons) High Street, Epsom to discuss finding a group coordinator and to fix a date for a street stall in early September.

+ Glasgow +

+ 5th August - Glasgow NO2ID Meeting +
Tuesday, 5th August at 8pm in Mono. All welcome.

Most Saturdays 2pm - NO2ID Glasgow street stall
Most Saturdays there are stalls in Glasgow city centre (usually Buchanan Street) from about 2pm. Volunteers are always welcome, please contact Geraint if you would like to help: glasgow@no2id.net

+ Hackney +

6th August - Hackney NO2ID Meeting
Wednesday, 6th August 7pm at The Pembury Tavern, 90 Amhurst Road, London, E8 1JH. If you'd like to keep up to date with what the Hackney group is getting up to, please join the mailing list at http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.hackney-and-shoreditch

+ Manchester +

Manchester NO2ID sponsored the "Freed Up" poetry night at the Green Room, which led to a fantastic evening of poems on the theme of Identity. Video from the event should be available soon.
http://manchester.no2id.net/content/freed-poetry-night-manchester

+ 9th August - Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 9th August 1pm-5pm in St. Ann's Square to raise awareness among the public and engage people in discussion about the National Identity Register. This month, we're going to try splitting into two shifts - a 1-3pm "early" shift and a 3-5pm "late" shift, to get more presence and coverage through the day. Pick a shift you're likely to make and if we can get at least four volunteers for each shift we'll make a whole day of it! Simply enter your name (or a pseudonym) and choose a shift at: http://www.doodle.ch/vgurr73b5in6mvdh

+ 13th August - Manchester NO2ID Monthly Meeting +
Wednesday, 13th August, 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. This month, due to a double booking, we will be meeting in side area just off the main bar rather than in our usual function room. See minutes of our previous meetings at http://manchester.no2id.net/taxonomy/term/5

+ Oxford +

+ 2nd August - NO2ID Oxford Street Stall +
Saturday, 2nd August from around 12 noon for a couple of hours, on Cornmarket, Oxford. As usual, helpers are very welcome. All you need to do is hand out a few leaflets and direct people to sign our petition. You don't need to tell us you are coming, but it helps with planning. For more, contact Jim (gadjie at gmail.com) who is coordinating this.

+ 7th August - NO2ID Meeting +
Thursday, 7th August (back on the first Thursday of the month) 8pm at the Mitre on the High Street to discuss the next steps in our campaign.

+ Southampton +

+ 6th August - Southampton NO2ID Meeting (1st Wednesday of the month) +
Wednesday, 6th August 8pm at the Dolphin pub, Osbourne Road South, Southampton (next to St Denys train station). All are welcome.

+ Thanet +

+ 2nd August - Thanet NO2ID Meeting +
Saturday, 2nd August 4.00pm at Morelli's Capuccino cafe, 14 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs. Totally informal get together. We are a small group, so new faces welcome. this is a chance to chat and swap notes. Details on the blog: http://thanet-no2id.blogspot.com/ . All future meetings will be be listed under "Upcoming meeting" on the side bar.

What just happened?

+ Human Genetics Commission calls for innocent to be removed from DNA Database +

The Human Genetics Commission has published a report of their "Citizens? Inquiry into the Forensic Use of DNA and the National DNA Database (NDAD)". The report lays out 29 core recommendations, the first of which is the "need for a nationwide public awareness campaign about the NDNAD that will reach all sections of the population". The inquiry felt that there "should be an independent body with broad membership, constituted by statue specifically to oversee the NDNAD". The majority of participants also concluded "that there should be harmonisation between approaches in Scotland, and England and Wales, and that the Scottish approach should be favoured". In Scotland innocent people are taken off the database and they do not record ethnicity.
The report can de downloaded at: http://www.hgc.gov.uk/Client/document.asp?DocId=158&CAtegoryId=8

+ Information Commissioner releases Annual Report +

The Information Commissioner's annual report has been published, which looks back at data protection and freedom of information issues over the last year. In relation to proposals by the government to construct a database holding the details of the telephone and internet communications of the entire population the report says: "Any such scheme would require the fullest public debate to establish whether, whatever the benefits, it amounted to excessive surveillance as a step too far for the British way of life".
The report can be downloaded at: www.ico.gov.uk/Home/about_us/what_we_do/corporate_information/annual_reports.aspx

+ Song speaks out against loss of liberties in UK +

A song lamenting the loss of privacy and the loss of liberty in Britain today has been written by singer/songwriter James Neilson Graham. The song is entitled 'Oh What a Liberty!' and uses satire to address issues such as CCTV and ID cards. James tells us that the song (which is copyright) is in line to be revised and re-cast.
Listen to the track online at: http://www.esnips.com/doc/3e9505db-1ffd-46e6-a33e-ea3654cad92d/01-Track-1

+ We?re not fundamentalists - personal information deserves respect +

NO2ID's Guy Herbert writes in The Guardian, responding to an article arguing that the state has an automatic right to our personal information:
http://www.no2id.net/newsblog/?p=909

"ID" in the news

+ Implied consent set to be scrapped for SCR - e-Health Insider 30/7/08 +
The implied consent model for the Summary Care Record (SCR) looks set to be scrapped in favour of a simpler consent model following a recommendation from Connecting for Health?s advisory group.
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/4012/implied_consent_set_to_be_scrapped_for_scr

+ Hungarian Roma MEP defends Italian fingerprinting idea - Politics.Hu 30/7/08 +
Livia Jaroka, a Hungarian MEP of Roma origin, defended the Italian government's decision to fingerprint the Roma residing in illegal camps in Italy. In her view, the fingerprinting will enable Italian authorities to provide immigrants, including children, with personal identification documents.
http://www.politics.hu/20080730/hungarian-roma-mep-defends-italian-fingerprinting-idea

+ Britain tightens visa rules for foreign students - The Economic Times 30/7/08 +
Britain on Wednesday unveiled stricter visa rules under which students from India and other non-European countries will require to provide their fingerprints and prove that they have money to support themselves.
http://tinyurl.com/5zbtcf

+ Blank robbers swipe 3,000 'fraud-proof' UK passports - The Register 29/7/08 +
A consignment of 3,000 "useless" blank biometric passports has been stolen on its way to British embassies throughout the world. Or at least, the Identity & Passport Service says they're useless. IPS' claim is based on the standard, highly optimistic party line that, as the passports contain a chip, they can't be used to produce fake passports.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/29/biometric_passport_heist/

+ Checks between North and rest of UK on way - Irish Times 28/7/08 +
People travelling between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom will be subjected to stiffer identity checks before the end of the year, British officials have told the Government.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0728/1217013340820.html

+ All air passengers to give their fingerprints ? but is the reason security or simply to raise profits for the duty-free shops? - Daily Mail 27/7/08 +
Millions of passengers flying from British airports will be fingerprinted from next year under the latest controversial Government anti-terror plans. The measures, which will apply to both domestic and international passengers, are being introduced despite opposition from the Information Commissioner, Britain?s privacy watchdog.
http://tinyurl.com/56trzl

+ UK identity card shenanigans upheld - The Inquirer 25/7/08 +
An attempt to force the government to publish the feasibility studies for its infamous Identity Card Scheme has been swatted down by the High Court. The Court upheld government appeals against a decision by the Information Tribunal last year that the feasibility studies should be published.
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/07/24/id-card-shenanigans

+ ID cards software 'to blame for passport service job cuts' - ComputerWorldUK 23/7/08 +
The union representing passport service workers has slammed the planned roll out of automated passport and ID cards processing as it has lead to job cut plans at the Identity and Passport Service agency.
http://tinyurl.com/66e6su

+ Details of Oyster card hack to be made public - The Times 21/7/08 +
Details of a computer hack which allowed researchers to clone identity cards that are used by million of people to access buildings and travel on public transport are to be published.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article4373717.ece

+ Unions line up against airline ID cards - The Register 21/7/08 +
Unions representing airline and airport staff are to tell Home Secretary Jacqui Smith that her plan to force staff to carry ID cards will add nothing to airport security.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/21/airport_id_cards/

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

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