Lib Dems Pledge Extra Police

10.16.59am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 28th Jan 2005

"Identification Cards are an attack on our civil liberties, will create more crime than they prevent and will cost billions of our money" said Graham Oakes.

"I accept the 'if you've nothing to hide why not carry one' argument, however even if we accept the reduction in civil liberties, they just won't work."

"ID cards did not stop the attack on the Twin Towers or Madrid station, yet the individuals involved had ID cards."

"If people need ID cards then organised crime will produce and sell them - it will be a new and highly profitable crime."

"Linking ID cards to access for benefits and health care would create major problems. If someone has a faulty card will they be denied health care, the person who is mugged and has his stolen, will he be turned away fro A&E? The elderly lady with memory loss, can't find her card so no pension this week!"

"The equipment costs (£11 million) to provide reading machines in post offices would be the death knell for most, if not all the rural post offices and some in the towns in South Dorset"

"The Government plan to spend £1 billion on introducing ID cards, it would be far better to spend the money on putting 10,000 extra police on our streets, which would reduce crime and the threat of terrorist attacks."

"The figure of £1 billion will almost certainly prove to be an underestimate. The government has a poor record with IT projects, its latest, the NHS system was meant to cost £6.2 billion, the latest estimate in £18 billion and rising!"

"Here in South Dorset the Tories latest desperate stunt outside Swanage Police Station claiming they would provide extra Police Officers is disgraceful. A Tory Government would cut the number of police in South Dorset towns & villages. They can not support spending at least £1Bn on ID cards and support massive cuts in public expenditure but still expect us to believe there will be more police on our street."

"They are becoming more like characters in Little Britain than a serious political party.