ACTiON SOCiAlist IN A BLAZE of publicity Kenneth Newman, head of the Metropolitan Police and ex-RUC chief, has Lashing out at what he called 'activists' groups left' Newman went on to attack the more officers to the beat. •Penetrating the community' can take the form of close coordination and between the police and other agencies such as the social and welfare agencies, education departments housing departments and other areas of local government.
The implications this are all too obvious: exchange of information and getting police policy to inluence decisions made b government agencies One effect of this can be seen in attempts being nauc In Sult London boroughs to get WUIKCIS LO DasS orIOr mation on kids they work with to the police. An exthan a double-edged tool to penetrate the communi- through professional agencies gathering intelligence What is particularly interesting that people who question this type of policing are deemed to be either 'misinformed' or SUBLES hatred against the police.
It IS in this light that Newman's outburst should be seen -delegitimising protests to ground these 11CW schemes for police one mabiny accountability 'an activist- who is a threat to public order As the economic crisis creasingly acute authoritarianism it is more impor tant than ever before that socialists movement activists take the 'law and order' issue seen as the domain of the Tory Party — seriously and politicise it.
The systematic removal of civil liberties is to be seen as a necessary Port of the Troles' strategy unemployed controlling jobless the It is in the light of this strategy that acts like the Criminal Justice Act and the Police Bill have to be Seei One way of fighting these im mediate and practical level Is by campaigning in the widest possible way against the Police Bill due Parliament be 'introduced into 1983 Meking campaigns like the Newham COll Roach a central focus of such a campaign. • The Newham 8 trial is expected to start in October. Plans being made for a national march rally and a can be contacted at: Box Forest Gate, London, E7 9JN.
ROACH FAMILY SUPPORT COMMITTEE