Council accused of ‘Big Brother’ tactics over use of fingerprint technology in schools 

A row over fingerprinting pupils using the latest biometric technology has erupted in Denbighshire.

Pupils at Blessed Edward Jones in Rhyl, the former school of TV presenter Carol Vorderman, are among the first in the Welsh county to use the system, which confirms payment for school lunches with fingerprints instead of cash.

But education officials are being accused by campaigners of using Big Brother tactics. They say the system was brought in without sufficient consultation with parents.

Denbighshire county council claims the latest technology is more cost-effective than swipe cards, which pupils can lose.

But David Clouter, a parent who founded the campaign group LeaveThemKidsAlone, said: “It’s totally out of proportion to the scale of the problem. It’s over the top and smacks of Big Brother.

“Some people have suggested fingerprinting pupils is a softening up exercise for later life.”

Michael Parker, of the campaign group NO2ID, which is worried about the threat to privacy and liberty from the growth of the “database state”, said: “It’s a pretty shameful use of otherwise tight resources. They could have used swipe cards.”

Ann Jones, Vale of Clwyd AM, described the technology as “intrusive and disproportionate”, and thought the council should have explored less costly solutions.

In her annual report for 2006-7, acting children’s commissioner Maria Battle said she had received complaints over the growing use of fingerprint technology, which can also be used to record absences and borrowing from school libraries.

Meanwhile, First Minister Rhodri Morgan said in his response last month that the Assembly government expected all schools to consult with parents, in line with advice from the Information Commissioner’s Office.

He also said schools should ensure any child refusing to give a print was not discriminated against.

Read more in this week's TES Cymru, out Friday May 9