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Surveillance and identity management: migrant perspectives on UK Biometric Residence Permits

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journal contribution
posted on 2011-06-02, 11:42 authored by Adam WarrenAdam Warren, Elizabeth MavroudiElizabeth Mavroudi
The identity card for foreign nationals - now known as the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) - was first introduced in November 2008. Following the May 2010 UK general election, the newly formed Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition government announced that the scheme would not be extended to UK citizens. To date, over 300,000 BRPs have been issued to UK foreign nationals e a group of non-EEA migrants that include international students, visiting scholars and entrepreneurs. In this paper, we draw on findings from interviews conducted with policymakers, advocacy groups, Higher Education administrators and foreign nationals - between March and December 2010 - to highlight some policy issues arising from the continued roll-out of the BRPs to this migrant group. We conclude by arguing that, although interviewees raised few objections to the BRPs in principle, cardholders were concerned about being unfairly ‘targeted’ for additional surveillance and remained unclear about the true purpose of the BRP. We identify a number of areas for further policy development.

History

School

  • Social Sciences

Department

  • Geography and Environment

Citation

WARREN, A.P. and MAVROUDI, E., 2011. Surveillance and identity management: migrant perspectives on UK Biometric Residence Permits. Computer Law & Security Review, 27 (3), pp. 245-249.

Publisher

Elsevier (© The authors)

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publication date

2011

ISSN

0267-3649

Language

  • en