ID cards in the rest of Europe?

[CyberRose]

For several years one the Home Office webpage the example of an ID card 'use' was to pick up a parcel from the post office. You would scan your card and it would get verified (creating a log). They have now taken down this page as they realized the PR damage it was causing reveling their true intentions.

They would like the card to be used for almost everything, from buying booze to taking out more than £200 quid, to booking a hotel room to opening a bank account. You name it every time it’s used a log.

So that's how it will be more intrusive then your phone calls etc (which they can only now view without a warrant becuase they changed the law to do so recently)

OK, I'll let you have the last word as I appear to have shot myself in the foot as I just wanted to know about the experience with ID cards elsewhere!

Basically the main arguments from the proponents which is that it will help combat certain types of crime, the main arguments from the opponents is that it will severely erode civil liberties and will be a waste of money.

I really don't understand the statutory/common law argument about how other countries are not comparable.

I can however understand that ID cards were perhaps brought in for reasons other than combating crime, and that certain information that may be on the UK card isn't on other cards or is not accessible by certain authorities (or not as easily accessible)

But surely there must be some relevant comparison to be made? Especially considering that in most of the ID card countries the card is compulsory?

I'm assuming that there are at least a number of countries where the police can demand to see it, either there and then or to be produced at a later date - have these countries experienced a severe erosion of civil liberties?

Are there any countries where the police believe the existence of an ID card scheme has helped them fight crime?