Government Reveals Shocking Truth About Police Powers Over Your ‘BritCard’—What They Can Really Do Will Surprise You
So, the UK’s rolling out this shiny new ‘BritCard’ digital ID scheme, and let me tell you, it’s about as popular as finding a hair in your favorite pint. Over 2.7 million people have practically screamed “No thanks!” on a petition against it — though, of course, that’s not stopping the government from charging ahead like a bull in a china shop. The pitch? These digital IDs are supposed to crack down on illegal migrants and folks sneaking into jobs they shouldn’t be doing, by making anyone who wants working rights whip out their smartphone app. But here’s the kicker: with Brits almost evenly split between for and against, and the loudest voices barking about a dystopian “papers, please” future, one wonders—are we really ready to trade a little liberty for a digital barcode? Curious how this all shakes out when your boss asks for your digital ‘passport’—and what it means if you just say no. LEARN MORE
The proposed ‘BritCard’ digital ID scheme appears to have gone down with Brits about as well as a cup of cold sick.
Over 2.7 million people have signed a petition against it on the official parliament website, not that those ever achieve anything, and the government has responded by saying they are going to do this.
They claim these digital ID cards will help them tackle illegal migration and people working in the UK without the right to do so, as anyone wanting to work will have to get a smartphone app containing their digital ID.
According to YouGov, 42 percent of Brits are for the digital ID compared to 45 percent against it, and 57 percent of the public apparently backs some form of national identity card, but those who aren’t for it are making the most noise right now.
One of the main fears people have expressed over the introduction of a new ID card is the idea that the UK might become a ‘papers, please’ society where you could face a demand to present your ID at any moment, so what’s the official line?
The digital ID will be mandatory if you want to work in the UK (Labour Together)
Can the police stop you and demand to see your digital ID?
According to the government, it is not their intention for the police to have the power to demand you show your digital ID.
The official government website explicitly states that the police will not be able to stop you and force you to show your ID, saying: “Police will not be able to demand to see the digital ID – as with current precedent.”
Given there’d be no point in an ID you never had to show under any circumstances, there will be times you’re going to have to show it to somebody, but that’s going to be if you want a job.
However, the idea is more along the lines of your employer seeing it to be sure you have the right to work in the UK, and you actually are who you claim to be, instead of passing off someone’s National Insurance number as your own.
The government insists the police won’t have the power to stop you and demand to see your ID (Getty Stock Photo)
What will the new digital ID be used for?
The government claims it’ll make it easier for Brits to access services and benefits, and have a more convenient time proving they are who they’re supposed to be.
They argue it’ll reduce identity fraud and make it harder for people who don’t have the right to work in the UK to get a job, or perhaps it’ll be easier to enforce the current rules on employers who are supposed to check for this sort of thing.
The Prime Minister said this will play an ‘important part’ in curbing illegal migration.
It’ll have your name, date of birth, a picture of you, your nationality and your residency status.
You can refuse to get a digital ID, but it’ll be tough to get a new job (Niklas Halle’n – WPA Pool / Getty Images)
What happens if you refuse to get one?
Since the digital ID card is going to be done via smartphone, it’s a problem for those who don’t have one, though the government has said there will be consultation on how to make it more accessible.
So even if you can’t get it on your phone, there will be ways made available for you to present your digital ID.
As for those people who flat-out refuse to get one, the government has said ‘it will not be a criminal offence to not hold a digital ID’.
In their response to the recent petition, they said it would ‘not be compulsory to obtain a digital ID’, though this butts up against them also saying ‘it will be mandatory for some applications’.
It will be a legal requirement as part of the checks for getting a job, so you can refuse to get a digital ID, and you won’t get in any trouble with the law, but you won’t be able to pass an employer’s check of your right to work in the UK, so you’ll be frozen out of the job market.
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