So they're going to expect a rather good checking system that WORKS and provides trustworthy airport workers to be replaced by a half-baked, untrustworthy and insecure ID card system and be able to say that things have IMPROVED ?!?
My God politicians are marvelous. They're the only people on Earth that can spout nonsense all day long and not lose their jobs, or apparently their sleep.
I'd do it in an instant - but first I'd have to have a lobotomy to remove the part of the brain that deals with morals.
You know, that visibly outdated notion that has to do with right or wrong ? I still have it, and it's still throbbing in pain from having read that article.

AT: No they're not, I suggest reading about "Shirley McKie".

"Recording the fingerprints of staff on the national identity register will ensure we link individual’s to a unique identity, helping maintain public confidence in the security of our airports," said the Home Office in a statement.

No it will not! If I am a prospective airport worker and I apply with birth certificates etc to establish that I am fred bloggs it will make not a jot of difference whether or not my fingerprints are stored somewhere. Fingerprints are NOT unique! duplicates are rare, but in a population of 60m, they are to be expected.

AT adds: "Fingerprints are NOT unique"? That'll be a blow to the world's law-enforcement agencies. Be sure to drop them a line to warn them.

Force 'em to put their identity where their big mouth is: make 'em go ID Card all the way, before anyone else.

IF the database gets compromised, it'll mean *those responsible* for the "security" are now at risk.

IF they do it ( go first ), and they consider it trustworthy for them, THEN begin adding us others. . .

...until they actually implement decent physical security systems in the first place. Considering the recent events in heathrow where protestors actually managed to get on a plane (http://tinyurl.com/ysltbd), im pretty certain there are much more important areas to focus rather than an expensive and probably hackable ID card system.

I have absolutely zero faith in the government IT systems these days...

Doubts about the uniqueness of fingerprints, and problems with an FBI study:
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn4611