COUNCIL DRAFTS SCHOOL FINGERPRINT POLICY - THANKS TO LIB DEM CAMPAIGN (Cheltenham Liberal Democrats)

Cheltenham Liberal Democrats <info@cheltlibdems.org.uk>

COUNCIL DRAFTS SCHOOL FINGERPRINT POLICY - THANKS TO LIB DEM CAMPAIGN

August 9, 2007 8:17 PM

Liberal Democrats on the County Council have welcomed drafted guidelines for schools on the use of biometrics - but say the Administration should go further.

Yesterday a cross-party Cabinet Panel, which was set up to discuss the issue of biometric technology in schools, agreed upon a set of guidelines to help governors and head teachers learn about the risks and benefits of introducing this technology for Gloucestershire's schools.

Liberal Democrat group leader, Cllr Jeremy Hilton, who sits upon the panel, said:

"I welcome the introduction of a Council policy on this serious issue which would not have been possible if Liberal Democrats had not raised the matter at a recent Council meeting. However, my colleagues and I do feel that the guidelines could have gone further. Although the final decision on whether to introduce this technology in schools rests with the schools themselves, we would have liked to see the Council at least make recommendations against it. As it is, the Council does not state a view."

Cllr Hilton added:

"We amended the original draft to ensure that schools have access to information other than the sales pitch of the manufacturers, particularly the views of experts and campaigners who see risks in this technology for schools. I thank my colleagues on the panel for accepting this amendment. Using biometric technology in schools introduces a number of serious and unnecessary risks, ranging from children becoming used to freely giving away personal data to the distinct possibility of identity theft in the future."

The issue of fingerprinting in schools was first raised by Cllr Hilton in a motion to the County Council last March. The issue has been discussed at a variety of Council meetings since. The Tory cabinet member for Children and Young People will decide whether to endorse the Cabinet Panel's guidelines in the near future.