ID Card Scheme Introduced in England

Residents of Greater Manchester in England are the first to have the option to apply for one of the new, non-compulsory, identification cards.  They are a convenient credit-card size and cost £30.

The unpopular plan to introduce compulsory ID cards has been scrapped, but it is believed that the new non-compulsory cards will have special appeal for younger people.  They can be used for many purposes, which include travel and proving their age to enter bars and nightclubs without having to carry passports and risk losing them. One advantage is that the ID card is cheaper to replace than a passport.

As the first phase of the scheme rolls out, British nationals and passport holders over the age of 16 who reside in Greater Manchester are eligible to apply for the ID card.  Applications must be made to attend for an appointment at Manchester passport office for fingerprints and a photo to be taken.  It is claimed that the cards, which contain the same biometric information as passports, are very secure and difficult to copy. 

The ID cards have received criticism from many groups, including members of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties who have warned that they will scrap the scheme if they win at the next election. 

A different ID Card is available for foreign nationals and more information about the cards can be found on the Home Office - UK Border Agency website.

Flickr CC Image: BruceTurner