Once again people gathered outside the UK Border Agency to protest against “ID Cards for Foreign Nationals”. This demonstration was scheduled to coincide with the start of the registration of non-EEA students and spouses in Wales and the West on Wednesday 10th December. The close proximity to a large number of workplaces and an assortment of further education establishments, as well as the lunchtime scheduling, meant that a healthy number were able to attend. Due to having work or study commitments most people were only able to come along for part of the demonstration, with the crowd swelling to well over 50 at one point. Though advertised as a one hour protest, the last of the demonstrators didn’t leave until two hours after the start time. We have had some contact from people who would join us on the streets, were the protest being held at a time and place more accessible to them, all we can say is watch this space (or bookmark our blog!).

We distributed 500 leaflets explaining the roll out of the scheme and how it will come to affect everyone who lives in the UK. The response from people passing by was once again entirely positive, as has always been the case whenever we have held protests against ID cards. Though only a circumstantial indicator, we certainly appear to be getting better public support than the Home Office on this issue!

Protesters who arrived at the demonstration promptly were met by member of South Wales Police’s Public Order Team (POT), wearing stab vests and heavy gloves, who ordered everyone to keep off the public property of the UKBA forecourt. This petty and quite frankly pathetic intervention by rude and aggressive public servants was largely irrelevant to proceedings as the intention was to fan out along the front of the building anyway. Some of the POT officers had their collar numbers hidden under (unnecessary and somewhat ridiculous) ’safety’ gear, when challenged on this, the officers first became aggressive and then unresponsive. That was until local beat officers arrived a little later on and once they were pressed on this issue, ensured the POT fell in line and (sheepishly) untucked their lapels, at which point the POT withdrew, visibly disappointed that they were unable to find an excuse to assault anyone.

With the whole scheme being pushed by spin doctors as a ‘crackdown’ on ‘bogus’ students and spouses, the Home Office has made a huge song and dance about the fact they were able to arrest someone who applied for an ID card. The effect this will have on the community he was part of is clearly not to make it a safer or better place to live. Once again, the twin aims of power and control appear to be the only major motivations. The idea that the UK is turning into a police state has widespread support, and even amongst people who think it isn’t, there is an understanding that many of the hallmarks are there. How we organise to oppose these worrying trends is up to everyone who cares about freedom and equality. We need to build the kind of movement that is able to reverse the waves of authoritarianism that currently dominates the political mainstream.