Carmichael slams Home Office plans to introduce passport checks on island ferries (Edinburgh Pentlands Liberal Democrats)

Edinburgh Pentlands Liberal Democrats <nm.gregory@btinternet.com>

Carmichael slams Home Office plans to introduce passport checks on island ferries

April 29, 2009 12:33 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has today (Wednesday 29 April) slammed the Home Office's plans to force residents to undergo further ID checks to board island ferries.

On the 24 March 2009 Home Secretary Jacqui Smith MP published the Home Office's counter-terrorism strategy, known as CONTEST. Contained on page 113 of the 174 page document is the announcement that there will be 'new police powers to collect advanced passenger data on some domestic air and sea journeys'.Alistair Carmichael MP: Orkney & Shetland

Commenting, Mr Carmichael said; "It is wholly unacceptable that people living in the Northern Isles are to have their access to lifeline transport restricted for no good reason. It is already in my view excessive that we should have to produce photo I.D on the ferries, that the Home office now wants to prescribe what that photo ID should be takes it to a new level.

"This is something which requires the broadest opposition from local people and I shall be encouraging as many local people and organisations as possible to respond to the Home Office.

"I have today written to the Home Secretary, Transport Minister and Scottish Secretary outlying my opposition to these unjustifiable plans asking for an explanation as to how making island residents provide passport identification before they travel to the mainland or adjacent islands will make the UK safer from terrorism."

Notes:

More information and copies of CONTEST can be found on the Home office's website at - http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/counter-terrorism/