LibDems call for UK and EU action on identity theft

12.40.00pm GMT Fri 7th Nov 2008

The EU as well as the UK government is being pressed by the Liberal Democrats to do more to tackle identity theft.

London's Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford is joining colleagues in pressing the European Commission to set up the kind of EU one-stop shop for individuals and businesses that exists in the United States where victims can get their problems sorted without having to struggle on their own.

Meanwhile Liberal Democrats at home have made proposals that give people security by allowing them to 'freeze' their own credit record and control who can access their financial details.

Sarah Ludford said:

"With identity theft in Europe on the rise and cross-border crime bound to play a large part, EU cooperation both to combat it and help victims is essential. The Commission should act to set up a single contact point which would contact the banks and credit reference agencies on a victim's behalf and save them the nightmare that often happens now."

"The UK Labour Government's stubborn persistence with plans for a national ID database is exactly the wrong approach as it will be a honeypot for identity thieves. Instead they should respond to Liberal Democrat calls for real action to help people who find themselves the innocent victims of this crime."