'Political' police chief rebuked

Sir Ian Blair was wrong to comment on ID cards, say critics

The UK's top police chief has been criticised for entering the debate on ID cards during an election campaign.

Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair said cards deserved "further consideration" after the conviction of poison plotter Kamel Bourgass.

Tory member of the Met Police Authority Richard Barnes said he should not be making "political comment".

But the Association of Chief Police Officers said Sir Ian had to respond to issues of identification in the case.

President Chris Fox said: "Events in policing go on. Last week we saw the end of a major terrorist trial, many questions being asked about the result and about how it progressed and was investigated."

"One of those issues was identification, so I think Sir Ian had really to say something in that circumstance.

"But in general terms, commenting on party policies should not be police business at this time. We should be keeping a lower profile."

Identity theft

But Richard Barnes told the BBC: "I am aware that he issued a press statement yesterday to explain that he was only restating a position that he had earlier, but I think it is highly inappropriate during a general election that a senior police officer should make a political comment."

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, also said it had been inappropriate for Sir Ian to talk on an election proposal and found the comments "strangely timed".

"Ironically, for once I actually agree with Richard Barnes," she said.

Kamel Bourgass was illegally in Britain when he killed a policeman

The deputy leader of newly-launched party Veritas, Damian Hockney, said ID cards were an "expensive, cumbersome, unnecessary system".

"It will place unnecessary controls on personal freedom without giving any security," he said.

"If Sir Ian thinks it is a good idea, he has to justify it."

On Sunday, Sir Ian told how he had been converted to the government plan for ID cards.

"I wasn't particularly keen on ID cards until recently - until I began to understand the way in which identity theft is carried out," he said.

"There are no more printing presses in basements. The documents that are being produced are exactly identical to the real documents, they're just unauthorised.

"And so we have to go to a place where we do know who people are. We now have the technology, I think through iris recognition, to go to that and I think that would be very helpful."

Labour are in favour of an ID card scheme, whereas the Liberal Democrats are opposed and the Conservatives promise to review the idea, if elected.

'Poison plot'

His comments followed the conviction of Kamel Bourgass.

Bourgass was found guilty of murdering Special Branch Detective Constable Stephen Oake and last week also received a further 17 years jail for conspiring to cause a public nuisance after police discovered what they believed was an al-Qaeda ricin poison plot.

The Algerian was in Britain illegally when he killed Det Con Oake in a Manchester flat in January 2003.

Eight other men accused of playing a part in a suspected poison plot were cleared of any involvement.