I'm an exiled Brit living in Canada that works in the Biometric/ID card industry.

The British approach to a National ID card surpasses the current Canadian proposals in my opinion for effectiveness. In order for any National ID card to provide it's designed protections, it must be made compulsory.

However, there remains the same flaw in the Brit approach that haunts all ID systems worldwide. How do you determine whom is elegible for enrolment?

Typically a birth certificate and other collateral "foundation" documents will need to be provided to prove elegibility.

What would prevent someone from using my British birth certificate (hand written) and a few rudimentary collateral documents from obtaining approval and entry into the National register? I would be unaware of this identiy theft since it would not affect me. The enrolled person would be able to move about Britain, obtaining services, a passport, driver licence etc. under an assumed identity.

Many British children left the UK with their parents. Although their birth certificates remain documented there is no other evidence of their existance, therefore no method to dispute anyone claiming their identity.

From a criminal perspective, the foundation docs for Brits who have emigrated Britain may become a valuable commodity on the world ID black market.

I am impressed however with the overall comprehensiveness of what I have learned of this project thus far, and would be interested to know how the program administrators will address the challenge of enrolment "How do you know I really am who I claim to be?".

Regards,

Ian S. Williams
Principal
Identity Systems Group
www.idsysgroup.com