Frightening new powers in Police Bill | Socialist Action 1983

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'A BILL being through parliament could bring becoming a police No, it wasn't some way out 'lefty' who said that. It was Lord Salmon, one of our 'esteemed' Law Lords.

So you now have it from the horse's mouth. This Bill is aimed at attacking the rights of young blacks and also is intended to take a swipe at the labour movement.

If passed it will be part of the armoury black, anti-Irish and anti-working class measures like the Immigration laws, Tebbit's anti-union laws, the Prevention of Terrorism 1ct.

MIKE RODNEY goes rushed posed. closer to state'. • Stop and search:

don't like the look of. which sparked • Powers of arrest:

of antiWing committed the offence...

powers.

something through what is being pro'The constable may on reasonable suspicion search any person or vehicle Jound in a public place for stolen or prohibited articles and may detain a tion person or vehicle for the purpose of This means that the police will have the powers to stop any one they 'Swamp 81" off the Brixton rebellion will become commonplace.

'Where a constable has reasonable grounds for suspecting an offence has been committed or attempted... he may arrest any person whom he has 'A reasonable grounds to suspect of havThis gives the police alarming new Up to now they have only been able to arrest people on suspicion if they think they have done that carries a five year Now you can be 'nicked' for not ErE a name and address a: ener dropping your cigarette packet on the pavement.

• Powers of detention: "A person shall not be kept in police detention for more than 24 hours without being charged' (unless) there are reasonable grounds that his detenwithout being charged necessur y to secure or or toer ve evidence of or relating to the offence jor waich ne was arrestea or to oolam such evidence by questioning him...

This now means people can be held for up to four days without being charged. The police will be able to define what 'a serious offence' is. Intimate body searches will be allowed, • Access to a lawyer:

person arrested and held custody in a police station or their premises shall be entitled if he so requests to consult a solicitor privately But then comes the rub because the arrested person must not be a person 'who is in police detention for a serious arrestable offence.' Nor must seeing a solicitor 'lead to interference with or harm. to exidence connected wine senors arenane orrence.

So you only get your 'rights' if the police think you should have them. Even these 'rights' people arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

For the black people this Bill is very bad news.

Pickets and demonstrations could be searched at any time for 'offensive weapons'. Items like placard poles oi banners would easily category. Coaches prevented destination and police could search them.

Anyone who has experienced the use of population will know what to expect now that even in powers are to be given to individual ponce.

Mass 'pick-ups', stop and search operations, passport raids LUIEC Unemployed youth hanging around street corners, nothing to do will become prey to the racist coppers.

Once in the police station they will get the treatment and be subjected to body legislation. do not apply to movement and police stations.

get In this going to rallies getting their opposition.

also 'sus' laws against the black Party too is greater discretionary pose the Bill.

checks elected will rise dramatically black having La campaign.

searches fingerprinting which is not allowed under present This new Bill is one more weapon in the hands of the ruling class and if passed will mean greater repressior and violence on the streets and in the WE HAVE TO STOP the Police Bill becoming law. The Greater London Council and a number of police monitoring groups are in Civil rights organisations are coming out against it. In Leeds a day of action has been held against the Bill. The Labour committed to op But we must make sure thai it does not slip off the hook as il did with other racist acts once it Here red by mention on re This Bill can movements in alliance with the labour movement.

The 27 March CARL demonstration is the beginnings of such

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Socialist Action 25 March 1983