ID cards introduced for G8
h | 28.12.2004 17:26 | G8 2005 | Social Struggles
Residents to Get Id Cards Ahead of G8 Summit
By Paul O’Hare, Scottish Press Association
Children as young as eight living near Gleneagles will be issued with identity cards as part of a massive security operation ahead of next year’s G8 summit, it emerged today.
It is thought as many as 500 residents of Auchterarder, Perthshire, will be asked to carry a special form of photographic identification to get past checkpoints and roadblocks.
But the officer in charge of the police operation said such measures were simply “standard procedure” for a gathering of leaders from the world’s most powerful nations.
There are fears that the summit, which will be held from July 6 to 8, will be targeted by protesters and that some demonstrations could turn violent.
Chief Superintendent Brian Powrie said: “Tayside Police is making preparations for a major security operation at Gleneagles Hotel and the surrounding area.
“It is standard procedure for such events and requires those who live close to the venue to carry identification so they can get through any police checks with the minimum of inconvenience.
“This involves a relatively small number of people being photographed and issued with a pass by the police.”
On the restrictions that will be in place, Mr Powrie said: “Children under the age of eight will not require to be photographed but will be included on their parents’ or guardians’ identification.
“There is no upper age limit.”
The population of Auchterarder is around 4,000 but Tayside Police said the number of passes issued would be in the “mid to low hundreds”.
But the force declined to say how far the security cordon would extend around Gleneagles.
Peter Everett, chairman of Auchterarder and District Community Council, said opinion was divided about the potential impact of playing host to Prime Minister Tony Blair and the leaders of the USA, Canada, Japan, Russia, France, Germany and Italy.
Mr Everett said: “A lot of businesses think it will be an opportunity for more business.
“A lot of residents wonder why they did not move it on to an aircraft carrier.
“There is a bit of concern, not about the G8 itself, but about the potential for violent demonstrations.”
Mr Everett also said some locals have been worried about insurance.
“There have been one or two concerns about people’s insurance and the fact that some insurance companies exclude acts of terrorism,” he said.
In June, Mr Blair confirmed that, under the presidency of the UK, Gleneagles will host the 2005 summit.
The announcement followed the conclusion of the 2004 summit on Sea Island, Savannah, USA.
Police have warned “the full force of the law” will be used against any demonstrators seeking to wreck the event.
But senior officers also held out an olive branch to mainstream protest groups who may be planning to demonstrate peacefully at the Gleneagles event, urging them to make advance arrangements with police.
By Paul O’Hare, Scottish Press Association
Children as young as eight living near Gleneagles will be issued with identity cards as part of a massive security operation ahead of next year’s G8 summit, it emerged today.
It is thought as many as 500 residents of Auchterarder, Perthshire, will be asked to carry a special form of photographic identification to get past checkpoints and roadblocks.
But the officer in charge of the police operation said such measures were simply “standard procedure” for a gathering of leaders from the world’s most powerful nations.
There are fears that the summit, which will be held from July 6 to 8, will be targeted by protesters and that some demonstrations could turn violent.
Chief Superintendent Brian Powrie said: “Tayside Police is making preparations for a major security operation at Gleneagles Hotel and the surrounding area.
“It is standard procedure for such events and requires those who live close to the venue to carry identification so they can get through any police checks with the minimum of inconvenience.
“This involves a relatively small number of people being photographed and issued with a pass by the police.”
On the restrictions that will be in place, Mr Powrie said: “Children under the age of eight will not require to be photographed but will be included on their parents’ or guardians’ identification.
“There is no upper age limit.”
The population of Auchterarder is around 4,000 but Tayside Police said the number of passes issued would be in the “mid to low hundreds”.
But the force declined to say how far the security cordon would extend around Gleneagles.
Peter Everett, chairman of Auchterarder and District Community Council, said opinion was divided about the potential impact of playing host to Prime Minister Tony Blair and the leaders of the USA, Canada, Japan, Russia, France, Germany and Italy.
Mr Everett said: “A lot of businesses think it will be an opportunity for more business.
“A lot of residents wonder why they did not move it on to an aircraft carrier.
“There is a bit of concern, not about the G8 itself, but about the potential for violent demonstrations.”
Mr Everett also said some locals have been worried about insurance.
“There have been one or two concerns about people’s insurance and the fact that some insurance companies exclude acts of terrorism,” he said.
In June, Mr Blair confirmed that, under the presidency of the UK, Gleneagles will host the 2005 summit.
The announcement followed the conclusion of the 2004 summit on Sea Island, Savannah, USA.
Police have warned “the full force of the law” will be used against any demonstrators seeking to wreck the event.
But senior officers also held out an olive branch to mainstream protest groups who may be planning to demonstrate peacefully at the Gleneagles event, urging them to make advance arrangements with police.
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SUMMIT ID CARDS FOR KIDS AGED 8
08.01.2005 12:06
SUMMIT ID CARDS FOR KIDS AGED 8
Dec 28 2004
'Over-the-top' security move for G8 meeting sparks anger
By Steven Ventura
CHILDREN living near Gleneagles will need ID cards to get into their homes during next year's G8 summit.
A total of 500 residents, including kids aged eight and above, will have their photos taken by police ahead of the July conference.
They will then be issued with ID cards which they will have to carry during the event at the hotel near Auchterarder, Perthshire.
One resident said: 'We have been told we must get a picture taken by police for an identity card.
'And without this we will not be allowed in and out of the area. Even our children must have them.'
The ID cards are part of a £150million security operation for the summit which will be attended by leaders from Britain America, Canada, Japan, Russia, France, Germany and Italy.
Troops and secret service agents from all eight countries will join thousands of police from Scotland to guard the 850-acre site around the hotel.
Prime Minister Tony Blair has apologised to locals for the inconvenience they will suffer during the three-day summit.
But yesterday, local MSP Roseanna Cunningham said the ID cards were a step too far.
The SNP member for Perth said: 'This is an absolute outrage and I cannot see how it can be unilaterally imposed on local people.
'What are the police going to do if someone goes out to do their shopping and forgets their card, or when kids are in and out of their homes?
'Are they going to be subjected to police checks at every turn?
'I suspect this will only be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to disruption to the everyday lives of the people.'
Barry Hugill, of human rights group Liberty, said: 'To demand identity cards is an abuse of power. And to suggest children must carry them is outrageous.'
Apart from terrorist concerns, police fear anarchists and anti-globalisation protesters may try to disrupt the summit, which is being held from July 6 to 8.
Auchterarder Community Council chairman Peter Everett said: 'Police told us some people living within the immediate area would need identity cards.
'But we had no idea it would be as many as 500 residents.'
Police Chief Superintendent Brian Powrie said: 'It is standard procedure for such events to require those who live close to the venue to carry identification so they can go through any police checks with the minimum of inconvenience.'
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December 29, 2004
Locals to get ID cards during G8 summit
CHILDREN as young as eight living near Gleneagles will be issued with identity cards as part of a massive security operation planned for next year’s G8 summit.
As many as 500 residents of Auchterarder, Perthshire, will be asked to carry a special form of photographic identification to get past checkpoints and roadblocks as part of efforts to ensure the safety of the leaders of the world’s most powerful nations.
There are fears that the summit, which will be held at Gleneagles from July 6 to 8, will be targeted by protesters and that some demonstrations could turn violent.
Chief Superintendent Brian Powrie, of Tayside police, said: “We are making preparations for a major security operation at Gleneagles Hotel and the surrounding area. Standard procedure for such events requires those who live close to the venue to carry identification so they can get through any police checks with the minimum of inconvenience. “This
involves a relatively small number of people being photographed and issued with a pass by the police. “Children under the age of eight will not require to be photographed but will be included on their parents’ or guardians’ identification. There is no upper age limit.”
The population of Auchterarder is about 4,000 but police said the number of passes issued would be in the “mid to low hundreds”. They declined to say how far the security cordon would extend around Gleneagles.
Peter Everett, chairman of Auchterarder and District Community Council, said opinion was divided about the potential impact of playing host to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the leaders of the US, Canada, Japan, Russia, France, Germany and Italy. “A lot of businesses think it will be an opportunity for more business,” he said. “A lot of residents wonder why they did not move it on to an aircraft carrier.
There is a bit of concern, not about the G8 itself, but about the potential for violent demonstrations.” Police have warned “the full force of the law” will be used against anyone seeking to disrupt the event.
The Nationalist MSP Roseanna Cunningham condemned the plans and said they would represent the “tip of the iceberg” in terms of the disruption that would be caused to the local community. “Here is a warning, before they are introduced at a national level, of how ID cards can be used to control the actions of ordinary people,” she said.
The Perth MSP said the concept of identity cards could pose a number of problems for people who live near the exclusive hotel. “What are the police going to do if someone goes out to do their shopping and forgets their card?”
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