Britain’s deputy chief will scrap ID card program, trim DNA database in civil liberties push
By APWednesday, May 19, 2010
UK’s Clegg plans civil liberties drive
LONDON — Britain’s new deputy leader says he’ll scrap an unpopular national identity card program, limit the retention of DNA samples and tightly regulate the use of closed circuit TV cameras in a sweeping civil liberties drive.
Nick Clegg, the country’s new deputy prime minister, said Wednesday that he will oversee an overhaul of the criminal justice system aimed at abolshing unnecessary laws and better protecting individual freedoms.
In a speech, Clegg vowed to deliver the most significant changes to British democracy since the Great Reform Act of 1832. That legislation changed the political system to grant more citizens the vote.
Clegg says that “taking people’s freedom away didn’t make our streets safe,” and promised to ask the public which laws should be ditched.
