Asylum seekers

JaneJudge

even British people have to show ID before they can work

It depends who the employer is and what work is being done.

Aveline

I've seen the videos of boatloads arriving on shores of seaside towns and the migrants running up the beaches to disappear into the streets. Not noticed or registered. Who employs them? Provides accomodation etc? These ones won't qualify for benefits etc and will always just be unregistered. Not a great life hiding from authorities.

Border Force only has one cutter for the whole of the East Coast from the Channel to Norfolk. It's impossible to monitor such a long coastline. It's been known for ages that boats arrive, not only in towns, but in quieter areas. Both Border Force and the NCA rely on undercover work and just do not have the resources to catch more than a small fraction of criminals.

No, it's not a great life, but possibly better than the life they're leaving behind.

In many countries you have to carry your ID card and can be asked to produce it by police. Certainly many European countries. But apparently it’s unBritish so we can’t do that.

Data to control and confirm immigration and citizenship would be boosted by having a national identity card, something that is all the more relevant post-Brexit. In the aftermath of the Windrush affair, two former Labour home secretaries, Alan Johnson and Charles Clarke, claimed that the scandal could have been prevented if identity cards had been in use. Such a system, they said, is “the best way to prove and so protect a citizen’s identity.”
ID cards could help to solve a number of other issues that have cropped up in recent years, such as voter fraud and identity theft. They could also drastically improve the ability of the state to serve its citizens, and save a meaningful amount of money at the same time.
Estonia has shown how. Its government claims that 99 percent of public services, from voting to tax to national health insurance, are available through the centralised digital identity system it has built. Not only has this improved access, it has also led to immense cost savings – a staggering eight hundred years of worktime for the state and citizens annually. Given that Estonia’s population is less than a sixth the size of London’s, this would be a considerable contribution for the United Kingdom.

I have to say I don’t have a problem with ID cards (having lived in countries which use them )
Plus if they helped with controlling asylum seeker registration etc /legal migrant status that would seem to be a bonus.
Frankly just anything which could unclog the block and speed the process up….

I agree re ID cards. Hard to see why not. Of course they could be forged and sold but I'm sure a way could be found to beat that.

Estonia is a global lead in digitisation of public services.
The uk could have done this but the will isn’t there.

No to ID cards.

No way. Ever.

I’m uncertain that ID cards would be a bad idea. We all need to present forms of ID frequently. It needs an address with your name on it, so passports and driving licences are often requested. I’ve had regular exposure to this in the aftermath of mr i’s death. A utility bill with your name and address is sometimes acceptable but that doesn’t give your d.o.b. Many of the families I worked with had no pass[ort or driving licence. They moved mor frequently and with less planning than your average. Man ID card could have been useful to them.

Anyone who has the good fortune to visit Greece will find that many Albanians have settled there. They work extremely hard, long hours, often supporting the tourist industry. The aren’t given the same employment rights as Greek citizens even after several years of working and paying tax

One of the best doctors we had contact with over recent months came to the uk ten years ago, from Albania.

Criminal gangs need effective investigation. Thst means funding border force, the police and working internationally.

ID cards are a contentious issue. Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with them and they could be useful in various situations. Why can't we have voluntary cards for those who don't have a passport or driving licence? Quite honestly, various authorities already have loads of data on all of us and it wouldn't be difficult for a "big brother" to link it all together.

vegansrock, I agree with you about ID cards. I have never had a problem with them. However, many people don’t agree with them, including many in all the different political parties. People think ID cards are, as you said, unBritish. I don’t understand this point of view but I do understand that many people hold this opinion. So it is probably a non starter here, unfortunately.

Shall we have an ID card thread? 😉

If you want to volver. Do you want to start it?

if you must

After Strictly. 😄

I can’t be bothered to start a thread about anything, I’m wasting time until I can call my daughter and grandchildren in New Zealand.

Ahh volver’s watching Strictly. I’ll look for the thread after I’ve talked to my very important little people.

volver? Watching Strictly?! Blimey.

I always watch it! I'm a softy really!

That Argentine Tango 😍

Aveline

I agree re ID cards. Hard to see why not. Of course they could be forged and sold but I'm sure a way could be found to beat that.

In many countries they are biometric (finger prints or face recognition) which makes them much harder to forge.

The BBC's Ros Atkins on Albanians:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-latin-america-63520784

Interesting that the vast majority of males have no interest in staying long-term and don't even apply for asylum.

I really don't want an "ID card" thread

So I'll just say it on here that I'm with volver on this one!
No cards please!

Too late! We've got one.

Although I've stated I'm not against the, I'm not bothered either way. However, I wonder if some kind of scheme for people who don't have a driving licence or passport would be useful. A few years ago, my council (don't know about all) used to issue teenagers with an ID card to prove their ages for child fares on buses and then, when they were older, to get into cinemas, buy alcohol and cigarettes, etc.

Although my daughter is now in her late thirties, she used to be asked for ID for her age until she was middle thirties. Admittedly she’s always looked young for her age.