ID cards might be a practical altenative to passport, proof of NI etc but the pro lobby tend to emphasise the war against terror as a pont in favour. If they can be produced by a government appointed agency, then they can be produced by others with worse intent. Is there a connection between the pro ID cards lobby and the companies who stand to earn from the contracts associated with them. I'm sure someone smarter than me can follow the money trail. CCTV - it doesn't work. It does not prevent crime which is the basis it was sold to us on. It's not that good at providing evidence after the event, poor resolution, the cunning use of sportswear to obscure a person's features and the impossibility of monitorring all of the cameras all of the time make it an expensive and ugly piece of street furniture. Detention for 42 days, I'm agin it for all the reasons above and think it'll be a great recruiting tool for those who are in the business of fomenting unrest among easily led 'radicals'.