ID cards ‘will protect youngsters from paedophiles’
Charles Clarke tells the Home Affairs select committee that, amongst other things, ID cards will “help keep youngsters safe from perverts”.
Exactly how is that going to work, then? Are people’s cards or records on the National Identity Register going to be tagged with markers that say ’suspected paedophile’ or ’suspected terrorist’?
An identity document shows nothing of someone’s intent – the problem with catching criminals is just that: catching them, and finding the evidence of what they have done. Identifying someone once you have them in custody is rarely a problem, and if they are already known to the police then they should be on their systems already.
