Helston College to fingerprint pupils for food

10:00am Thursday 18th October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Greg Fountain, Reporter/Photographer

Helston College is introducing a new cashless payment system in their canteen from next month, using children’s fingerprints.

The “Trust-e Cashless Catering System” will go live on November 14 and requires at least one parent to give consent for the use of their child’s biometric data.

Headteacher Pat McGovern reassured parents in a letter home that all information would remain within the college.

“The biometric information taken is an algorithm and not the actual finger print,” he said, in an attempt to lessen parents’ fears that their children were being “fingerprinted.”

Parents are able to opt-out of the system and children will be provided with another identification method such as a four digit PIN code.

But, Mr McGovern said: “The preference of the college is to use biometrics as this is more secure and faster than other methods of identification.”

Former schools minister Nick Gibb recently announced that children’s biometric data was “sensitive personal information” and new advice coming into effect from September next year will not allow schools to use this data without parental consent.

Comments(25)

meerkats says...
11:07am Thu 18 Oct 12

would imagine that a lot of parents and students would be wary of this scheme,initially anyway.

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THORQUIP says...
12:05pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Another sensationalist headline from this atrocious rag. Fingerprint reading is a well used and tried access control method. Your headline "Helston ....to be Fingerprinted" is just an attention getting device in your usual deplorable fashion. You say in the text that it is biometric information and NOT the actual fingerprint that is used. This is correct and the system is totally benign. Why then employ such an inaccurate and emotive headline? Journalism of the worst kind trying to create a controversy where there isn't one and hoping to exploit the feelings of the ignorant and superstitious.

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meerkats says...
12:20pm Thu 18 Oct 12

THORQUIP why do you bother reading these pages if you think its an atrocious rag. you never seem to have a good word to say about the Packet got your attention didnt it ?.

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THORQUIP says...
12:32pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Typical personal comment meerkats, of the level to which these forums often descend, in a most primitive fashion. No relevance to the subject whatsoever. I read all the media about Cornwall and form opinions from a received amalgam of events and issues. 'tis the democratic way. I find the comments in these forums most enlightening and many, many good points are made, with which I entirely agree. They perform a very useful democratic function and discussion opportunity. I do hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

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meerkats says...
1:48pm Thu 18 Oct 12

The relevance was just an attention getting device in your usual deplorable fashion which is what you said in your comment THORQUIP hence my comment it got your attention didnt it. it wasnt a personal comment and yes i will enjoy the rest of my day.

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THORQUIP says...
2:01pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Bye.

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Lord Barrington Forbes-Smythe says...
3:11pm Thu 18 Oct 12

My my, the regular contributors to this forum seem to be getting on so well nowadays.. I'm thinking of inviting you all to an Xmas get-together at my place: it would be interesting to see what transpired... there would probably be a murder or two, and then we could bring in Wycliffe to investigate!
But I digress: one of my offspring attends that school and we couldn't give a toss about the so-called personal liberty implications since she’s not planning a criminal career, but it is mildly inconvenient to have to go through this process just to obtain the odd slice of pizza as she doesn't have long left there.
The school cites the aim of reducing bullying as its motivation: I hadn't realised the theft of money between pupils was such a problem there and would be interested to hear how many cases of this have occurred... I doubt the Head would divulge that though as it might look bad for the school’s all-important image.

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meerkats says...
4:21pm Thu 18 Oct 12

i shall be more careful in what i reply in future, dont like falling out with anyone ,or else just refrain from commenting on future articles. LBFS it would be very interesting to see how many cases of theft there has been amongst the pupils ,but as you have said i expect the Head would rather not say to protect the reputation of the school. it will be interesting also to see how many parents back the scheme.

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Lord Barrington Forbes-Smythe says...
4:28pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Meerkats, it would indeed be interesting to know how many parents back it. It seems to me a bit like progress for progress's sake...

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Lord Barrington Forbes-Smythe says...
4:46pm Thu 18 Oct 12

And I meant to say, I don't think you should refrain from replying so much in future as I find your comments constructive and not deliberately controversial

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meerkats says...
5:19pm Thu 18 Oct 12

LBFS.. Thankyou for your very kind comment.

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Gill Zella Martin says...
9:10pm Thu 18 Oct 12

I don't have any school age children, but would be interested to know what happens to the data after a child has left the school.
meerkats, I seem to frequently annoy people by making controversial comments, however, I certainly don't do it intentionally. You can't stop commenting I enjoy reading your comments.

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Lanty Slee says...
10:30pm Thu 18 Oct 12

So THORQUIP is claiming that the children at Helston College won't be fingerprinted, because it's biometric data that's being used...?

Errm... correct me if I'm wrong, but these are not mutually exclusive terms.

It's my understanding that the children will be fingerprinted and then that information - contained in the fingerprint which is unique to each child - will be converted into biometric data.

Whether or not the actual fingerprint is stored is irrelevant... The child has still been fingerprinted - like a criminal.

Why do schools feel it necessary to implement such drastic measures?

The use of biometrics in schools is appalling and unnecessary.

It's this way that totalitarianism lies.

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meerkats says...
7:04am Fri 19 Oct 12

thabkyou Gill

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meerkats says...
7:04am Fri 19 Oct 12

sorry should have said thankyou Gill

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nanstallon says...
8:55am Fri 19 Oct 12

I find myself agreeing with Lanty Slee on this. Whatever assurances are given about data storage, the fact remains that private data has been taken that used to be taken only from criminals. The police state project under New Labour involved building up a national database and anybody who had any contact with the police (even if innocent) had their fingerprints and/or DNA compulsorily taken, if necessary by force.

The argument that 'if you are innocent, you have nothing to fear' is rubbish. Privacy and civil liberties do matter and must be defended.

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Lord Barrington Forbes-Smythe says...
9:07am Fri 19 Oct 12

nanstallion, show me miscarriages of justice resulting from the taking of fingerprints from schoolchildren and other non-criminals. I can certainly show you plenty of miscarriages of justice resulting from criminals not being dealt with appropriately due to fear of infringing 'civil liberties'.

Next time you or your relatives are the victims of crime and the police literally don't have a clue, you might find yourself wishing they kept more comprehensive records.

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nanstallon says...
10:08am Fri 19 Oct 12

Lord Barrington Forbes-Smythe; what is the connection between civil liberties and miscarriages of justice?

If the police cannot investigate a crime properly without infringing civil liberties, then it says something about their competence. Rather like people using 'elf an safety' as an excuse for not dong something they don't feel like doing.

Those who give up their liberty for the sake of security end up with neither. Nazi Germany abolished civil liberties; did that give the German people any security?

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Lord Barrington Forbes-Smythe says...
10:42am Fri 19 Oct 12

The connection is that the civil liberties brigade prevent criminals from being dealt with appropriately, not so much miscarriages of justice as justice not being done.
In your scenario, the police would only be infringing civil liberties to the extent that the law on civil liberties is slanted in the criminals' favour.
Not talking about abolishing anything, just redressing the balance.

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nanstallon says...
7:13pm Fri 19 Oct 12

I know that the law may seem at times to favour the criminal, but don't we have a principle that a suspect remains innocent until proved guilty? Until then he/she is not yet defined as a criminal.

I don't support silly human rights claims like prisoners suing because their porridge was too hot, but I am not ashamed to be a member of the 'civil liberties brigade'.

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Lanty Slee says...
12:10pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Why stop at fingerprinting schoolchildren though Barrington?

If the police had a comprehensive DNA database (where each and every baby is swabbed and logged at birth) then after about 80 years no crime committed by a British-born citizen, where DNA evidence was recovered, would go unsolved.

In fact, while we're at it, why don't we pass legislation allowing for the upcoming advancements in nanotechnology - so that every child could have an "invisible" tracking device inserted into their bodies while they are being swabbed and logged.

Oh my, but what utopia would we inhabit then.

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Lord Barrington Forbes-Smythe says...
12:20pm Mon 22 Oct 12

LS, I actually quite like your first para but not so much your second, bit OTT.

Nanstallion, I respect your views and also like your porridge example :-)
I also have a bizarre image in my head now of you marching through the town with that particular brigade.

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Lanty Slee says...
2:48pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Methinks you may have slightly misinterpreted my use of the lowest form of wit...

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nanstallon says...
5:29pm Mon 22 Oct 12

I will defend anyone's right to say what they wish as long as it doesn't provoke racial unrest, even if I don't agree with what they are saying. As Oliver Cromwell said, "I beseech you to consider the possibility that you may be wrong". A good principle in life, which I try to follow!

And my wife makes excellent porridge. Enjoy yours!

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Sparklelard says...
10:55am Wed 24 Oct 12

I give my daughter her lunch money every day. She finds it easier to manage it this way. This cashless service is going to drive more school kids away from the school at lunch time.

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