However, the government's claim that national ID cards would have helped to stop the ricin plotter, Kamel Bourgass, is cynical and dishonest. Sir Ian Blair said the problem with people such as Bourgass was that they were unknown to authorities, but he was known to the authorities and they didn't act against him when they could have.
Asylum seekers are already issued with ID cards which carry their finger prints, a photograph and details about their age and nationality. However, the existing asylum seeker ID cards don't cover failed applicants - maybe its time they did.
In a written parliamentary answer weeks ago, Des Browne, the immigration minister, said: 'It is not intended to issue ID cards to failed asylum seekers.' So how could the proposed national ID card scheme have provided the Police with details about Kamel Bourgass and given that he was a failed asylum seeker on the run and he was planning to commit terrorist acts, then who thinks he would have presented himself to the authorities to get an ID card if he was required to have one?
Anyway, Bourgass was arrested in East London for shoplifting in 2002. He was reported to the immigration authorities but no enforcement officer was available to interview him or take him into custody! Magistrates could have deported or detained him, as he was an illegal immigrant, but instead they fined him £70 and freed him. So if the correct procedures had been followed when he was in Police custody then he would not have been able to stay in the UK to plan terrorism or murder DC Stephen Oake.
Since the government is now fully aware of the terrorist threat, besides reforming ID card laws and adding some immigration enforcement, perhaps they should also stop taking away everyone's guns and pocket knives.
Ping!