Times Online [UK]: EU clears Berlusconi over Roma gypsies
The centre-Right Government of Silvio Berlusconi today declared that it had been "fully vindicated" after the European Commission said the fingerprinting of Roma gypsies in Italian camps did not amount to ethnic discrimination and was in line with EU law. ... A Commission spokesman said Brussels was satisified that in conducting a census of Roma gypsies in camps as part of its crackdown on street crime since coming to power in May, the Berlusconi Government was not seeking ''data based on ethnic origin or religion". The controversial fingerprinting programme had the sole aim of ''identifying persons who cannot be identified in any other way". The fingerprinting of minors was only being carried out ''in strictly necessary cases and as the ultimate possibility of identification,'' the statement said. However the Commission would continue to monitor the way the survey was being carried out.
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A Commission spokesman said Brussels was satisified that in conducting a census of Roma gypsies in camps as part of its crackdown on street crime since coming to power in May, the Berlusconi Government was not seeking ''data based on ethnic origin or religion". The controversial fingerprinting programme had the sole aim of ''identifying persons who cannot be identified in any other way".
The fingerprinting of minors was only being carried out ''in strictly necessary cases and as the ultimate possibility of identification,'' the statement said. However the Commission would continue to monitor the way the survey was being carried out.
The controversial fingerprinting programme had the sole aim of ''identifying persons who cannot be identified in any other way".
It's not going to be used like that thought is it? What fucking imbeciles took this decision? To only seek out a particular group for fingerprinting/census screams of human rights breaches. Ad astra per aspera
Police are to be given access to the Government's new children's database, in order to search for evidence of criminal activity. The Government confirmed last night that police would be able to apply for access to the system, which was originally conceived as a means to help protect every child in England from the risk of harm or abuse. However, in a move likely to dismay privacy campaigners, police will be able to request archived data for a number of reasons, such as "the prevention or detection of crime" and "the prosecution of offenders". The £224m ContactPoint system, being developed by CapGemini, is due to launch this autumn. The system will hold data on all children under 18 in England.
Police are to be given access to the Government's new children's database, in order to search for evidence of criminal activity.
The Government confirmed last night that police would be able to apply for access to the system, which was originally conceived as a means to help protect every child in England from the risk of harm or abuse.
However, in a move likely to dismay privacy campaigners, police will be able to request archived data for a number of reasons, such as "the prevention or detection of crime" and "the prosecution of offenders".
The £224m ContactPoint system, being developed by CapGemini, is due to launch this autumn. The system will hold data on all children under 18 in England.
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