29th October 2008

Green comments on news that Tiggers nursery at Downfield has installed a £10,000 fingerprint recognition door entry system.

Philip Booth, a Green party District councillor said: "By introducing this into nurseries, we are normalising fingerprint scanning and giving children the message that they are in danger by seeing their parents fingerprinted. There are no proven benefits of using this system. Even Microsoft's Identity Architect Kim Cameron has said that 'It is absolutely premature to begin using 'conventional biometrics' in schools'. Furthermore the Government have still to issue guidelines concerning the human rights implications of the use of biometrics in schools. While I recognise some parents fears this is not the way to deal with them."

Philip Booth said: "Sadly this misguided move is all part of the 'database state' that is being created by this Government - the billions being wasted on ID cards with 50 categories of data and the new appalling Communications Data Bill, which proposes to record - for life - the details of everyone you call or write to and what websites you visit. Monitoring your communications is more intrusive than searching your home. It should only ever be done under warrant, with good reason. The general convenience of the Home Office is a very bad reason indeed."