Home Office identity fraud claims are full of holes

4.14.51pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 2nd Feb 2006

Alistair Carmichael MP, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman, responding to a new report highlighting the cost to the UK of identity fraud, said: "On the one hand the Government's figures are full of holes. On the other they are peddling claptrap about the effectiveness of an ID card in combating identity fraud.

"For example, it is impossible to see how an ID card would reduce credit card fraud unless we are going to be expected to show our ID card every time we make a purchase. Putting all our personal data in one place will make the ID card scheme a honeypot for hackers and identity fraudsters. In other words the ID card is likely to make the problem of identity fraud much worse, not better."

If ID cards could be shown to combat identity fraud then it would have to be compulsory for everybody to have one. Yet the Government says its ID card scheme will be voluntary.