You sound like the cops. They use this line all the time.
Some here think I am anti-police. I'm not at all, provided they are doing their job properly and not abusing their powers.
You see, people have rights and freedoms. One of those freedoms is to be able to go out when you want and do (lawfully) what you like. So when police start demanding your ID because you have a camera or because you are out for a walk in the early hours, I have serious reservations. Suspicion is not an excuse to demand ID. To say "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about" is meaningless. First of all you do not have to engage in conversation with the police, although they will voice their opinion that it is "strange" if you don't and will often move on to the "Are you alright?" tack, suggesting that you might be mentally ill. Second, they only have the right to your ID if they suspect you of a crime. You should not be pressured into giving your ID by that stupid statement. If your ID is given, it will stay on their system and if that person is stopped again, the police will use the "you are known to police" line, giving them (in their eyes) more of a reason to be interested in you.
I come from a country where it's compulsory to carry an ID, have an address, be known to authorities and where police can stop you for no reason whatsoever.
In other words you can't be a walking ghost, if they want to speak to you for any reason they know who you are and where you live and they can stop you on the street anytime.
Recently, anyone who renewed any ID (passport or identity card) has given fingerprints to the government database; I think it's the same here in UK now.
So many crimes have been solved by this.
Many claim that it is a violation of civil liberties, including me to a certain extent, but when you hear about children being abducted or slaughtered, you need to start thinking about chaining the criminals.
So I stand by what I said: if you haven't done anything wrong there's nothing to hide.
I am known to the police for speeding and reporting a couple of crimes in the past, that doesn't make me a criminal.
It only means that at one point I was in contact with the police and gave my details.
I need to highlight that when you report a crime or even make a simple accident report, your details go on the database.
So if you're stopped and they punch your details in their system, you'll be there.
Nothing wrong with that.
Same as when you register your details on the electoral register, police have full access to that.
Then of course if you want to remain completely anonymous, don't buy a vehicle, don't register on electoral roll or doctor, etc.
In other words, you need to live in hiding.
Who does that?
Criminals AND a very small minority of people who fear their information will be misused.