You ask: are ID cards, CCTV and data sharing acceptable prices to pay for the benefits of improved services and better security? (The surveillance society).

Unless the benefit of surveillance systems is clearly understood by the masses it will never be popular.
However, the foundation of trust in such systems has not been nurtured. Such  need to start slowly and demonstrate that they cannot be abused by anyone.

Access should be severely restricted to those of the highest calibre for only the most important of reasons.

Protecting civil liberties must come first if such systems are to be tolerated, and the adage of "just because we can build it does not mean that we should" must be  revisited regularly.

Such systems can be abused, and that abuse can be directed at any segment of society with an ease that defies belief.

It seems wrong that access to such technology and power is being put into the hands of local councils or debt collection agencies.

The general population needs to wake up to the very real threat of the worst kind of sci-fi future - a dystopia - and that process starts with understanding.

A national referendum seems the only way.

Name withheld on request