The government's proposed plans to compile a list of sensitive information about the British public would be a big target of criminals should it be completed, it is said.

Michael Parker, a spokesperson for the ID card and National Identity Register opposition campaign NO2ID, said that in light of a number of high-profile data loss incidents involving the country's administration, it would be of no surprise if the protection systems were not up to scratch.

He added that international criminals have more resources at hand than many authorities would give them credit for, meaning that a focused attack on this database could spell its end.

Mr Parker added: "The fact is, if you build something like any one of these official mechanisms, if you make it so that it is worth the criminal fraternity spending money and time to attack, crack and otherwise subvert it, then they will."

NO2ID is a non-partisan UK-wide campaign which aims to stop the proposition of ID cards for everyone from ever being realised on a real scale, as well as the prevention of any databases of information.

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