[LINK] Fwd: 'UK considers implanting RFID tags into prisoners'

[Geoffrey Ramadan]

Excluding the ethics of this, I don't see a lot of value in this idea. The RFID 
tag is very short range. You will need another device to read this tag and 
connect to a GPS system or another transponder (and battery). i.e. a bracelet. 
.... just stick to the bracelet.

I also suspect the tag could easily be removed.

Regards

Geoffrey Ramadan, B.E.(Elec)
Chairman, Automatic Data Capture Australia (www.adca.com.au)
and
Managing Director, Unique Micro Design (www.umd.com.au)


Jan Whitaker wrote:
> spotted by Roger:
> 
>> UK considers RFID tags for prisoners
>> Porridge with chips
>> Iain Thomson, vnunet.com
>> 14 Jan 2008
>> http://www.itweek.co.uk/vnunet/news/2207145/government-considers-rfid-tags 
>>
>>
>> The UK government is considering implanting prisoners with RFID tags 
>> containing data on identity, address and criminal record.
>>
>> The RFID tags, about the size of two grains of rice, would be injected 
>> under the skin and could be scanned by a reader.
>>
>> There are also proposals to link the RFID tags to a larger GPS device 
>> to monitor the location of high risk prisoners.
>>
>> "We have wanted to take advantage of this technology for several years 
>> because it seems a sensible solution to the problems we are facing in 
>> this area, " a senior minister told the Independent on Sunday.
>>
>> "We have looked at it and gone back to it and worried about the 
>> practicalities and the ethics. But, when you look at the challenges 
>> facing the criminal justice system, its time has come."
>>
>> The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that it is considering the 
>> proposal as part of plans to modernise the prison system.
>>
>> Human rights groups have pounced on the proposal, however, describing 
>> it as "degrading".
>>
>> Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said: "If the Home Office does 
>> not understand why implanting a chip in someone is worse than an ankle 
>> bracelet, they do not need a human-rights lawyer they need a 
>> common-sense bypass.
>>
>> "Degrading offenders in this way will do nothing for their 
>> rehabilitation and nothing for our safety, as some will inevitably 
>> find a way round this new technology."
>>
>> The RFID proposals are designed to address problems with the existing 
>> tagging system which uses a transmitter strapped to the ankle.
>>
>> Over 2,000 of the 17,000 offenders fitted with the ankle tags have 
>> escaped by tampering with, or simply cutting off, the device.
>>
>> Curfew breaches for the past two years are up 283 per cent, and 
>> further development of the system has been halted until these problems 
>> can be sorted out.
>>
>> Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the National 
>> Association of Probation Officers, stated that the RFID proposal would 
>> be unhelpful.
>>
>> "This is the sort of daft idea that comes up from the department every 
>> now and then, but tagging people in the same way we tag our pets 
>> cannot be the way ahead," he said.
>>
>> "Treating people like pieces of meat does not seem to represent an 
>> improvement in the system, which works well enough as it is.
>>
>> "Knowing where offenders like paedophiles are does not mean you know 
>> what they are doing."
>>
>> The UK has been moving faster than most in the use of RFID, including 
>> plans to tag exam papers.
>>
>> Similar schemes in the US have been banned, and there are fears about 
>> the health risks and security of RFID implants.
> 
> Jan Whitaker
> JLWhitaker Associates, Melbourne Victoria
> jwhit at janwhitaker.com
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> 
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