My PIN number is 7692

I always used to be a great supporter of ID cards, on the basis that if you didn't do anything wrong, you wouldn't haven't anything to fear. I thought that they would go someway towards reducing crime and illegal immigration, and maybe even help restore a sense of national pride.

But ID cards would mean extra storage of personal data. With sensitive data lost on a weekly basis, how can anyone be confident that personal information doesn't fall into the wrong hands? The latest missing list don't just contain the names of a few local Weight-Watchers. No, it contains the personal information of 600,000 people who had expressed an interest in joining the armed forces. Passport numbers, National Insurance numbers and bank details. A terrorist hit list.

Other data lost recently includes details of child benefit recipients. (I'm not too concerned about this one as, although the principle remains the same, I still don't understand why we should pay people money just for having kids).

Personal data is like the male reproductive organ. It's a wonderful thing, with many possibilities, but it should never be released into the hands of someone stupid.