New identity cards could be a waste of time and money

By David Raven

New identity cards will be available in Liverpool from the end of February.

They will contain two sets of your fingerprints, your photograph and your personal details.

Although they are optional, police have said that the identity cards will help protect us all from crime, terrorism and illegal immigration.

But try telling that to Cynthia Boakye, who's 18-month-old toddler was abducted from police custody after a woman walked into a London police station - with no identification and claimed to be a friend of the child's mother.

The mother Cynthia, 36, was arrested last Thursday and her 18-month-old daughter was in care of the police whilst they tried to contact her nearest relative.

Cynthia was arrested over alleged immigration offences on Thursday.

Charges that can include not having any identification which proves your stay in the country is legit.

The same day an unnamed woman arrived at the police station, claimed to be a friend of Cynthia and abducted the child without being asked for any I.D.

Thankfully the child was later found and the woman arrested.

But it just goes to show that the new identity cards will be a complete waste of time unless the police play their part in asking for them.