CHILDREN as young as five are being fingerprinted by their schools.

A survey of Local Education Authorities (LEAs) in England has revealed that at least 285 schools are fingerprinting children.

However that figure is believed to be higher and will rise substantially with schools expected to be told by Ministers that they have the right to collect biometric data and install fingerprint scanners this week.

Critics say collecting fingerprints from children will put them at risk of identity thieves.

The Government wants personal data, which could also include eyeball scans, to be used to monitor attendance.

As a result fingerprint scanners would be placed at the entrances of schools, outside classrooms and even in the canteen.

Such scanners would enable schools to track pupils alerting them immediately if a child is playing truant or bunking off certain lessons.

Critics, including MPs and civil liberties campaigners, say they are concerned that school computers are not secure enough to hold such information and claim the move will see schoolchildren barcoded'.

Nearly 900,000 children aged 10 to 17 already have their genetic information stored on the police's national DNA database, along with 108 under the age of 10. The guidance, to be approved by ministers this week, will say that schools can benefit from using biometrics at entry points to schools and classrooms as well as to take out library books.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, Sarah Teather MP said: "These figures confirm an extremely worrying situation where schools are fingerprinting pupils without any guidance on whether it is legal to do so.

"Insecure school computers holding precious unique personal information are a gift to identity thieves. Concerned parents should write to the Government demanding that it produces strict regulations for the use of this technology in schools.

"An awful lot of people are washing their hands of responsibility while this practice spreads unregulated."

A spokesman for the civil rights group Liberty added: "We have some serious concerns that this biometric data is being collected from children simply for administrative convenience. We want to know what happens to the data after the children leave. The police have the right to get into any database, private or public."

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