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Congestion charge 'could harm civil liberties'

21/12/2007

An anti-congestion charge lobby group has called for the appointment of a civil liberties champion to protect the details of Manchester motorists.

Manchester Against Road Tolls (Mart), which has criticised local politicians for failing to demonstrate how personal data will be safeguarded, believes that the congestion charge database will be of one the biggest of its kind in the country.

Given that a congestion charge is likely to result in more cameras, surveillance, data collection and an "ever growing log of our movements", councillors have a duty to ensure that privacy is paramount.

Mart co-ordinator Sean Corker said: "The recent twin debacles over the loss of millions of child benefit details and learner driver's records are a wake up call for all citizens.

"Political leaders in Manchester have said nothing about security around the proposed congestion tax database."

Bury council recently joined Trafford and Stockport in the withdrawal of support for Transport Innovation Fund bid.

The government said it will pump millions of pounds into the Manchester transport system on condition that a congestion charge is rolled out.