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# A better way to fight terrorism?
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/a-better-way-to-fight-terrorism/
- Published: 2008-07-07T13:07:17.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:41:05.000Z
- Author: Tom Griffin
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:41

**Tom Griffin (London,** [**The Green Ribbon**](http://tomgriffin.typepad.com/the%5Fgreen%5Fribbon/?ref=opendemocracy.net)**):** The cost of Britain's surveillance society has reached £20 billion according to a [report by the TaxPayers Alliance](http://tpa.typepad.com/waste/files/the%5Fcost%5Fof%5Fbig%5Fbrother%5Fgovernment.pdf?ref=opendemocracy.net) released today. The bill includes £19 billion for ID cards, £500 million for CCTV and £300 million for the DNA database.

The findings have been picked up David Davis as part of his by-election campaign, as the Telegraph's [Andrew Porter](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/2259877/%27Big-Brotherandrsquo-government-costs-us-andpound20billion.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) reports.

*Mr Davis said: “This is yet further damning evidence of Big Brother’s* 
*expensive tastes. ID cards, CCTV, the DNA database and other measures are a* 
*huge waste of taxpayers’ money on policies that undermine freedom and are* 
*utterly ineffective in fighting crime or terrorism.*  

Where many on the liberal left will part company from Davis and the TaxPayers Alliance is in their emphasis on deporting high-profile extremists, something the Alliance believes would be facilitated by [withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights](http://tpa.typepad.com/waste/2008/07/the-cost-of-big.html?ref=opendemocracy.net).