Netherlands - ID papers compulsory

[Napo]

Dutch make ID papers compulsory

Saturday 01 January 2005, 22:10 Makka Time, 19:10 GMT


The Netherlands has introduced a new law making it compulsory to produce identity documents in a government bid to crack down on crime and boost security.



Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's government secured parliamentary backing last year for the new ID law amid concerns about crime, public disorder and potential attacks from activists opposed to the presence of Dutch troops in Iraq.

Concerns about crime have dominated Dutch politics since the rise of anti-immigration populist Pim Fortuyn in 2002.

The 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States and last year's Madrid train bombings have added to worries about security.

Many European countries already have some form of identity card scheme, but the move has drawn fire from critics in the
Netherlands, a country renowned for its liberal attitude to
prostitution, cannabis, euthanasia and gay marriage.

The law, which came into effect on Saturday, makes it mandatory for people from the age of 14 to produce an identity card when asked by police.

Rising crime

"People involved in crime are getting younger and younger, so I've no problem with the age limit. For privacy reasons I think it's not a good thing but it's becoming a necessity to maintain order," said 33-year-old Dutchman Ramon Geskus.

He added: "I just hope the police don't misuse it just to harass Moroccans or Turks and other people."

"I just hope the police don't misuse it [the new law] just to harass Moroccans or Turks and other people"

Those who fail to produce a valid ID card - including schoolchildren and pensioners - could face a fine of up to 2250 euros ($3061) as part of a law-and-order drive by the centre-right coalition.

The law change, approved by the upper house of parliament in June, tightens existing rules that demand people produce proof of identity in limited circumstances, such as on public transport or at soccer games, the government says.

Passports, driving licences, a national identity card or residence permits will be accepted as valid ID.

Police are only to ask for ID as part of regular duties - such as investigating an incident - and are not to carry out separate ID checks.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exer...5801D9EE45.htm

[Biggles]

Yep Labour are pushing for the same thing here, i dont see why my personal privacy should suffer because the government are incompetent or cant handle the situation otherwise.

[Awar]

The compulsory ID thing has been enforced here in Serbia since well before I was born.

What's weird is that when I used to have long hair ( I used to look like Jim Morrison's kid brother ) Policemen always stopped me and asked me for the ID.

Since I started shaving my head I haven't been stopped once.

[Biggles]

Probably cos yer so ard looking they dun wanna mess wit ya .

You shu com to ma patch in Lundan mate .

[Vitor]

"I just hope the police don't misuse it [the new law] just to harass Moroccans or Turks and other people"

It's only normal to harass more other people than dutch looking ones, usually the dutch have legal papers...

Portugal also have that law for many years now.

[Cristoforo]

Malta has had compulsory ID cards for a long time and personally I find nothing wrong about it. It's good that the state is able to distinguish between legitimate and legal citizens and the others...

Here in Malta for example, to open a bank account you need to show the banker your ID card. Also, in Malta you need to present the ID card to cash cheques and to apply for social benefits.

What do people in countries without ID card do? Can you open a bank account without identification for example? Does that mean that someone could potentially open a bank account under a false name for example?

[Cristoforo]

"I just hope the police don't misuse it [the new law] just to harass Moroccans or Turks and other people"

It's obvious the Dutch police will "harass" more those who don't look dutch or european. I am sure that the most "harassed" will be the Moroccans and the Arabs since the terrorism threat in the Netherlands is very serious.

[etoile noir]

well cristoforo, that is our attitude because we are so used to having ID cards. to us it's become normal.

however do you notice that when you produce those 6 digits on your ID card, all your personal info appears on the PC screen of your banker, or a simple clerk in any government department, whether its for social assistance or otherwise?

on the one hand we have a data protection act, and on the other we all have ID cards which we have to produce, for every simple act, such as cashing a cheque, showing all and sundry our names, surnames, address, date of birth, marital status...... data protection?? from whom exactly? all our data is there for every tom, dick and harriet to see. all they need is 6 digits and sod data protection!

I have always seen it as a gross intrusion of privacy.