Schools are eroding pupils' civil liberties by taking their fingerprints, often without parents' consent, tea-chers in the UK were told yesterday.

At least 80 schools across the country are believed to have introduced the technology, with fingerprints used to identify pupils for registration, to borrow library books or in the school canteen.

According to a statement by the Information Commissioner's Office there is no explicit rule under the Data Protection Act which says schools must seek consent from all parents before introducing biometrics.

But Hank Roberts, of Copland School, northwest London, and executive member of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers said this was "outrageous".

At ATL's annual conference in Manchester, Mr Roberts called for the union to raise the issue of fingerprinting in schools with the Schools Secretary, and to support industrial action if necessary to oppose the introduction of biometrics in schools if it does not have the backing of parents, staff and unions.

He told delegates: "Parental consent should be compulsory. It is outrageous that children's fingerprints can be taken without parents' consent."

Mr Roberts said that Capital City Academy in Willesden, northwest London, had introduced fingerprinting without parents' consent last year.

After concerns were raised, the school contacted parents for permission and introduced an "opt-out" clause.

Mr Roberts told delegates: "There has been a severe diminution of civil liberties in this country and we face the danger of more and worse to come.

"This motion should be considered in the context of the almost relentless assault on our civil liberties under this government and the previous one."

Alex Thomas, principal of Capital City Academy, said the school had initially written letters to parents to tell them of the plans to fingerprint pupils.

"Parents felt that there wasn't sufficient consultation so we stopped the plans at that point and went through another consultation with parents instead of assuming that parents would give consent and sought active consent from every parent.

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