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 Jessops in frame for ID card scheme - Page 1: Thousands of photo stores in line for ID card sign-up

Monday 11th May 2009

Chris Cheesman

Jessops

Jessops is among thousands of photographic stores in line to provide photographs and fingerprint data of individuals taking part in the government's controversial national identity card scheme.

The Photo Marketing Association (PMA) - whose members include Jessops - is in talks with the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) over the proposals, which also include the collection of biometric data for new passports.

More than 4,000 UK photographic outlets belong to the PMA.

Jessops - Britain's biggest photographic retailer with 211 shops - has yet to confirm whether or not it will take part in the scheme.

But PMA's UK director Nigel McNaught, who is in discussions with the IPS, said: 'If a National Identity Card Scheme is launched then our members want a slice of the action.'

McNaught claimed stores that already provide customers with passport photographs are best placed to collect biometric fingerprint and facial recognition data.

Last week the Home Office announced that people living in Greater Manchester will be the first to be able to volunteer for ID cards - a scheme which has drawn criticism from civil liberties campaigners.

Unanswered questions

However, McNaught does not expect all photo retailers to sign up to the scheme because some will question whether there will be enough profit in it for them.

He explained that the Home Office has not yet made clear how much photo retailers will benefit from such a move, in financial terms.

Neither has the Home Office outlined how much investment shops would need to make, nor the computer systems and training requirements.

McNaught said that some of these issues will be addressed at PMA's upcoming meeting with the IPS, a date for which has yet to be set.

Asked whether Jessops is among those in talks with the Home Office about the scheme, a spokeswoman for the store said: 'Due to confidentiality issues we are not able to answer this at this stage. However, when we are in a position to talk then, of course, we will.'

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