National identity card launched in Manchester

Members of the public who live or work in Greater Manchester can enrol for a National Identity Card from today.

Appointments for members of the public to enrol their fingerprints have started at Identity and Passport offices in the city centre and at Manchester Airport.
 
Benefits of the £30 cards include their use as a simple and universal proof of age and identity. They can also be used to travel around Europe in place of a passport.
 
The Home Secretary, Alan Johnson said,

'The many benefits of the National Identity Card can now be enjoyed by members of the public in Manchester.
 
'The first applicants will soon be taking advantage of the voluntary card as a means to prove and protect their identity in a quick, simple and secure way.
 
'It can be used by young people as a convenient and universal proof of age and as a credit-card sized alternative to the passport when travelling in Europe.'
 
Identity Minister Meg Hillier visited The Printworks, Manchester's largest entertainment complex, today to meet staff and promote the new National Identity Card as a universal proof of age document.
 
Statement from the Identity Minister
 
'Greater Manchester has one of the highest populations of students in Europe.
 
'With research by the Identity and Passport Service showing that nearly ten per cent of passports are lost by young people on nights out and tough legislation introduced this month to clamp down on underage drinking, it will be more important than ever for young people to have access to a universally accepted proof of age.
 
'This viable alternative to carrying a passport has been endorsed by businesses across Manchester and by Greater Manchester Police.'
 
The Identity and Passport Service will now accelerate the rollout of ID cards across the UK. Citizens in the North West will be able to apply for a card early next year and there will be full national coverage by 2012.

Notes to editors
 
The National Identity Card will deliver recognisable benefits to residents, businesses and local authorities. They include:
 
-a universal and simple proof of identity that brings convenience for organisations and individuals and means an end to the use of photocopied bank statements, phone bills and birth certificates
 
-being used as a travel document across Europe.
 
The National Identity Card costs £30 compared with £77.50 for a passport.
 
The card contains facial image and fingerprint biometrics to link the holder securely to his or her own identity.
 
Information on the face of the card resembles the information that is on the personal details page of the passport. For British citizens, an identity card will function as a travel document and so is subject to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
 
An Identity Cards Act commencement order was signed on 16 November to extend the availability of voluntary identity cards to members of the public in Greater Manchester starting from today.
 
From today, National Identity Cards will also be issued to airside pass holders at Manchester and London City airports. Home Office and Identity and Passport Service staff have been able to apply for an identity card since 20 October.
 
Individuals can get more information or make an appointment for an identity card by calling 0300 330 0000.
 
Further information on the National Identity Service, can be found at http://www.direct.gov.uk/idsmart, and for businesses at www.businesslink.gov.uk/idsmart.
 
For all media enquiries call the Home Office Press Office on 0207 035 3535.

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