I am writing in response to the article on the use of biometric technology in schools as a means of identifying students when using facilities such as the library (The Argus, March 6). This issue was reported at a recent Brighton and Hove City Council children's and young people's overview and scrutiny committee. Many issues were raised and we were told we were to be reassured on these issues but we are still waiting for an update.

The council does not hold the information on which schools use this technology. Parents are often not asked for consent by schools and some do not even know that it is happening. This could encourage young people to be irresponsible citizens as they will not need to carry either money or cards to school, all can be done either by a fingerprint or in some cases an iris scan.

Despite claims that police will not have access to the data, how can we be sure of this, especially if a crime were to be committed in a school?

And if the police hold the data, they will hold it for ever.

Even if we accept innocent motives to make people's lives easier - although I'm not sure this is an admirable educational objective - this is taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. On a more sinister level are we grooming young people to be "clones" of society and to learn to accept this Big Brother surveillance state as a way of life?

  • Rachel Fryer, Green councillor for Queen's Park member of children's and young people's overview and scrutiny committee Brighton and Hove City Council