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ID Card rollout meets resistance

IMC UK features | 25.11.2008 20:10 | Migration

On Tuesday 25th November, the British state began its rollout of biometric ID cards by imposing them first on migrants. From this date foreign spouses and nationals from outside Fortress Europe who apply for, or renew, study visas will be required to attend a UK Border Agency Centre for interrogation and fingerprinting. They will then be issued with cards which will hold their name, photograph, nationality and immigration status, along with a biometric chip that will hold their finderprints and digital image. The details will be held indefintely on the UK Identity Service database. Over the next three years, other groups of non-EU nationals will be forced to undergo the process.

On Monday evening, NO2ID activists in Leeds expressed their resistance to the scheme with a public burning of a mock ID card. A Liverpool action followed on Tuesday, with a picket, leafletting and a samba band. A No Borders banner drop on one of Newcastle's busiest inner motorways on Tuesday morning alerted commuters to the rollout, whilst Lunar house in Croydon was picketed by No Borders London. Meanwhile in Birmingham a picket of the UK Border Agency in Solihull was met by a disproportionate police presence and in Cardiff there was a picket of over 60 people. Noborders Manchester joined forces with Merseyside activists to protest outside Reliance House in Liverpool.

Actions: Liverpool: 1 | 2 | Leeds 1 [video] | Newcastle: 1 | 2 | London: 1 | 2 | Birmingham | Cardiff [video] |

Reports: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

External Links: Defy ID | NO2ID | No Borders UK

Giant ID card
Giant ID card


Further details of the scheme emerged over the course of the week, including the fact that ID cards will cost £30 initially and that the cost is expected to rise after 2010. It also became apparent that cardholders would face £1000 fines if they failed to update the state on out of date data.

NO2ID claimed that the introduction of hostile visa regulations for foreign nationals in the USA led to a 15% reduction in applications, and noted that British universtities would suffer if fee income from overseas students dropped. On Indymedia concerns were expressed about NO2ID's affiliates and rhetoric.

As the cards began their rollout in the UK, reports emerged that USA border guards are now able to read ID cards remotely, with the aid of the integral biometric chips. The cards and associated databases could easily be misused to oppress and control some or all of us, and it is that potential which fuels the resistance which manifest itself this week.As No Borders noted: "Under a cloud of anti-immigration hysteria the government is increasing it’s social control and attempting to usher in unprecedented powers of surveillance over the whole population."

IMC UK features

Additions

yeah, don't forget us!

27.11.2008 00:34

There's a report from the Cardiff demo, including a video here:  http://noborderswales.wordpress.com/2008/11/26/cardiff-protest-against-id-cards/

The Cardiff office of the UK Border Agency doesn't start registering people until Wednesday 10th December, so we'll be having another demo at noon that day. Come along if you can.

No Borders South Wales
mail e-mail: noborderswales@riseup.net
- Homepage: http://noborderswales.wordpress.com


Article with compiled reports of anti-ID actions and political commentary

03.12.2008 10:48

Countrywide protests in opposition to ID cards - By resisting the repression of migrants, we defend the freedom of everyone!
 http://www.nobordersnottingham.org.uk/index.php?newsid=169

one of No Borders Nottingham
- Homepage: http://www.nobordersnottingham.org.uk


Comments

Hide the following 8 comments

sorry but...

27.11.2008 00:56

...this doesn't appear to be the best researched feature to be honest...

...


So do the research

27.11.2008 09:46

Want additions to a feature, what to correct something. Why not take part in making the news? Join  http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-uk-features and take part - the only way this site will ever work is if we all pull together to make it happen.

imc-uk-features @ lists.indymedia.org


more

27.11.2008 10:36

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/11/413583.html
this is another link from liverpool that doesn't seem to be included.

There were also protests in Birmingham Glasgow (check the newswire).

(I'm not complaining, just making additions as you suggested)


Also, I think that the report should mention the discussion that were had on the politics of opposing ID cards, i.e. the NO2ID v. No Borders perspectives. There was a long discussion between supporters of the two groups somewhere on here. And in Liverpool, No Borders made this a particular issue with banners and placards saying 'no one is illegal'.
In my opinion it's slightly bizarre to provide links etc to a group that described itself as being non-partisan on all but one political matters and includes affiliates from the far right.

manc


Wider support from Trade Union's and Political parites

27.11.2008 12:01

Different groups of people from Trade Unions, NO2ID and poltical parties also signed multi-signatory letters expressing their opposition to the scheme:

 http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/letters-to-the-editor/ID-cards-are-bad-for.4733067.jp

ID card acitivst


Well Done

27.11.2008 12:20

Well done everyone who has started resisiting and protesting against the ID card scheme. These protests can only increase with size as the scheme progresses. Great to see Defy-ID, No Borders and NO2ID all getting people out. Soon hopefully this will be joined by Trade Unionists, Poltiical parties and a mass movement against the scheme will take off.

Nice One


Anarchy signs give bad impression

27.11.2008 17:29

The trouble is that when you have an anarchist sign next to a No to ID card sign then nine out of ten people are going to prefer ID cards. Seriously guys, a lot of people see anarchy as the worst possible thing that can happen to Britain. They link it to crime and disorder on the scale of a Third World country. This is therefore helping the government to make ID card more popular. If you don’t believe that then conduct your own survey.

Baron von Lotsov


Don't be dismissive due to ignorance!

28.11.2008 12:00

Surely its time to relay a proper understanding of Anarchism and its symbols to the masses rather than dismissing it due to others ignorance and hiding it away almost as if you were ashamed of the label!

@narchist & proud


Sheffield demo

01.12.2008 15:36

Against the start of registration:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/414028.html

Registration starts in different places across the country, with Croydon and Sheffield now having started and both having met protests, should we expect protests on the following dates, in the following places?

4th December: Liverpool
8th December: Birmingham
10th December: Cardiff - already called a protest at noon.
12th December: Glasgow


one of no borders