The first census replies come flooding in...

I'm sure the Office of National Statistics will be pleased with that one...

Hat-tip: CL

Comments

[Tiresias23]

When the census information is released in 100 years or so your descendants will be able to see what smart arses their ancestors were.
I also look forward to the government taking on board the information provided in the census and aiming to provide services for local people who work as lion tamers in outer space.

[Cholten99]

The real question is whether it will be a small enough number of people either not returning, defacing or deliberately subverting (as above) the census that the government will actually fine them or will it be so many (like music piracy) that any prosecution will politically look random and personally vindictive?

[mkp]

Government don't provide services. They rob people blind, then FORCE substandard, no choice garbage on people.

It doesn't matter what information you give them, they will always steal more and provide garbage in return.

[startledcod]

The Government aiming to provide services for local people - per-lease. Why does the Government, local, regional, or national need to know what my job title is to provide 'services'?

I've got a deal for the Government, I won't fill out the Census, they won't dream up any 'services' to provide, I get to keep my money and leave it to my descendants. I have no doubt they'd prefer that to knowing what my job title was.

Get - off - my - back!

[Paul]

Under what laws would a person be fined though?

Anyone?

I don't want to fill it in either, I'd prefer to fill it with nonsense.

[ohno]

Surely if sufficient people (some two or three million I believe are the figures suggested that did not complete it last time) do not complete the Census then as was suggested previously this would be a protest against a government trying to undemocratically force people to share private and personal data? If this happens then would there be an argument for the government to either fine everyone who opts out or just leave us all alone?

It is a bit like a modern day version of the suffragettes tying themselves to the railings.

[John Galt]

In Response to Paul (above)

Census Act 1920 states-

8. Penalties.— (1) If any person—
(a)refuses or neglects to comply with or acts in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or any Order in Council or regulations made under this Act; or
(b)being a person required under this Act to make a statutory declaration with respect to the performance of his duties, makes a false declaration; or
(c)being a person required by any Order in Council or regulations made under this Act to make, sign, or deliver any document, makes, signs, or delivers, or causes to be made, signed, or delivered a false document; or
(d)being a person required in pursuance of any such Order in Council or regulations to answer any question, refuses to answer or gives a false answer to that question;
he shall for each offence be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F1 level 3 on the standard scale].

[Dick Puddlecote]

We professional ride-on lawnmower racers could do with targeted government services too. ;)

[Victoria Thomas]

My census return willcontain Name, Rank and Serial Number only ! In other words, my name, address, date and place of birth, exactly the information required on every census back to 1851, so if they try to fine us, we refer to the fact that we've filled in the info as required in 1920 !!

[Richard Craven]

Unlike other people, I can accept that governments find censuses useful for reasons we care about - the planning and provision of services etc.

However, although censuses are useful to good governance, they aren't essential to it.

People should resist being coerced into imparting extensive information about their private lives. There are times when considerations of privacy outweigh those of utility, and this is one of them.

[John Galt]

"Lion Tamer in Outer Space" sounds like a really great, but obviously fake job description. One that I've always enjoyed and is a real job carried out by hundreds of UK employees today is "Chicken Sexer".

Try putting that on a census form.

Obviously, only if you actually ARE a "Chicken Sexer".

;O)

[Jayne Shenstone]

If you don't give consent, they cannot prosecute you. Simply write NO CONTRACT RETURN TO SENDER.

If you go to the lawful rebellion site, you can print off a lovely sticker for your envelope.

http://www.lawfulrebellion.org/2011/03/09/26th-march-census-rebellion-central-london/

[Jayne Shenstone]

All the reasons why you must not fill it in:

http://www.lawfulrebellion.org/2011/02/22/2011-census-rebellion/

[Colonel Shouty]

"Lawful rebellion" is a load of nonsense. It's like being bukkake'd with stupidity.

[frenchie]

no contract no obligation. return to sender

[alastair]

@frenchie, @Jayne Shenstone:
Why don’t you ask a lawyer to explain it to you?

[Gordon]

In some ways I hope millions of people don't fill it in and end up with £1000 fines (+ costs?). It might help with the deficit.

If the Gov wants to make some money this would be a pretty good legal way to fine people as it's an absolute offence instead of a fluffy grey one.

[benwright]

This census should be ignored by everyone.

When was the last time your MP replied to your enquiry?
When was the last time we had full and unequivical accounts of government spending?
When was the last time we had a complete list of the HoC wine cellar?

Tells you all you need to know

[Little girl]

Is the census cross referenced with the electoral roll? It would be interesting where I live (Tower Hamlets) to see if the 20 or so electors registered at an address actually live there/have the nous to mirror their electoral roll information on the census sheet.

[tommorows world]

OK the only Law they can screw you with is contract law i.e. don't contract with them, don't answer the door and don't reveal a name. A simple "your tresspassing, leave and don't come back" and a closed door will suffice.

"You cannot prosecute a house”

Glen Watson Census director

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10516437

[tommorows world]

Obviously don't answer the door to say anything but if you do have to speak to them then see above.

[tommorows world]

What scares me is already everyones going "oh great they'll get rid of it" and instead the government can take all our private data from banks etc. This is super shit. Tesco where asked and actually declined to give over clubcard info to UK gov. Right on Tesco!

http://www.bitterwallet.com/every-little-helps-but-tesco-say-no-to-the-uk-census/41552

http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/sectors/technologyproducts/article/1057488/Government-targets-UK-brands-quest-census-data/

[Richard Craven]

Please can we not let Lawful Rebellion hijack the anti-Census protests. Lawful Rebellion is just an excuse for mob rule. How dare they invade that courtroom.

[Starbuck]

I AM NOT A SLAVE!

I AM NOT LIVESTOCK!

And the day will soon come when we, the people, will want to know your names and where you live!

[Lisalovejase]

I dont Agree with this Sensus As its by Lockheed martin who make Deadly weapons that have killed millions of small innocent children. It would be against my own law to do this sensus.so it is being returned back to sender ,No Contract!!!And also a big waste of money