Citizens of India and other non-European Union countries will be issued compulsory identity cards from later this year as part of the British government’s plans to improve security and prevent identity fraud.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith on Thursday said the non-EU nations would be the first to be required to have the card. It would then be rolled out to airport baggage handlers. People in other sensitive security roles would get them from 2009. Students would need to have the cards from 2010.