massive extensions of police powers of search, arrest and detention.
MORE, secretary of the National Campaign against the Police Bill, about the aims and objectives of the campaign.
What is the importance of the Police Bill? I think the key thing is that it must be seen alongside a number of other things.
It has been introduced along with the Union and Labour Relations Bill, with the Prevention of Terrorism Act, with the report of the Law Commission Relations law and with major developments and proposals to do with multi-agency policing (ie drawing a range of social services into the process of policing).
wnen one lakes lose developments along with massive and the massive increase in police Millal salion police retraining for riot then it becomes possible see that the Police Bill is itself part of a broader disturbing picture.
It's importance resides both in the provisions it well as in ine context of which it is What are the aims of the campaign?
To mobilise all those totally opposed to the Bill with view to defeating it. What we can say is that the Labour Party has opposed Then: a very motion passed at the reCel Comercice The Liberal Party and the Alliance has come out against the Bill and so parties already representing a majority of the people in the UK are opposed to it.
In addition we know that the black community JANET LOVELESS spoke to CECIL GUTZHow is the campaign being built?
It's being built at two levels. One is focussed on mobilising the aDOu movement, the parties, une essona against the Bill and als any of them who are only interested in opposing its MOSI provisions, such as the churches We are getting national trades unions to issue indistribute struchons propaganda and take up discussion in the branches, regions, trades councils concerned at local • is also regional level to make links with existing groups to build local campaigns against the Police Bill so they can go out to tenants churches, trades unions, streets, estates and give • people in formation about why this Bill is a danger, and why it represents a threat to their civil liberties, UWIl why they should combat it.
What support is there for the campaign amongst the Party and trades unions!
At the moment we are still working towards building up our support those We have a number of honorary presidents including Michael Meacher, Harriet Harman, Lord Gifford and Tony Benn. We are also hoping to recruit the Home Affairs spokesman from the Alliance in the Commons, Mr Carlisle We already have spon sorship from the NCCL Alan Sapper the ACTT, Ray Buckton from ASLEF and Bill Keys from SOGAT. Work is going or from other trade unions sponsorship LUW and leaders.
We are seeking sponHarold Wilson and read the words on the card... sorship from the TUC for a national march that being called on January, 1984 We also have sponsorship from at least • MP. and that list is growing daiWhat future national events are being planned? The two key events on the agenda are firstly the naCone it Saturday in London.
The focus of the con ference is the background to policing in Britain in recent years and the way the Police Bill fits into that framework - the develop.
hard repressive policing both here on the mainland and in the six counties of the North of Ireland over the past 20 or so years.
The second big event is the march and rally January where national and international igures as well as local campaigns will speak BY #33 Police violence against black people will be legitimised by the Bill If the Bill is not defeated what will that mean for the campaign?
The campaign is positec on the basis that the Bil will and must be defeated it we tall to aereal l the work must go on. Op position in the communi ty, on the street, to the nowers of the state as ir creased by this Bill will have to go on. There is no alternative.
The Labour Party is of course, committed repeal the Bill. Their promises have not in the past, particularly in relation to immigration and race relations, been wholly reliable, but they have promised to repeal the Bill and that is important The key for the future to recognise that if the Bill becomes law then the duty take opposition onto the streets, to make that the police unable to enforce these powers, would be a very important objective indeed.
What can e compaign 10 support the campaign there isn't a campaign in their area?
stall one. nere does nee to be local campaign every Unless there are, then what we will have is a top heavy campaign.
What we will have is a campaign with activists up and down the countrv bu which doesn't ordinary people. If we don't touch such people then we will have failed The duty of everyboc nterested is that if there a local campaign, they are in it and active, and that if there is not that they get in touch with the National Campaign to seek assistance, contacts help will calling a meeling anc setting up a campaign. • National Campaign Against the Police Bill: 50 Rectory Road, London N16 01-249 8334 Police Bill
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THE NEW Police and Criminal Evidence Bill was recently introduced by the government. It contains
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