Police and the council

Police and the

The Boiice Consultative Committee: ot the solution, but part of the “problem.

By Woody Haut, Kate Allen, Sandra Plummer, Angela Birtill, Graham Shurety, Steve Taylor, Steve Bevington.

UNTIL THE police give assurances that they are willing to be accountable, that plastic bullets and CS gas will not be used, and that they will no longer harass black and working class communities, we must continue to oppose participation in the Police Consultative Committee.

For the Labour Group to ignore decisions of non-participation taken by Hampstead & Highgate GC,

\ >lborn & St Pancras, Local Government Committee, Borough Conference, and a majority of groups consulted within the community, has serious implications about how policy is made within the Labour Party. It is potentiaily more damaging than any embarrassment the Labour Group might face in reversing its decision, taken without adequate consultation, to participate in the Consultative Committee.

With police action in black ‘communities and mining villages fresh in our minds, non-participation in a “committee set-up by the police is a point of principle.

NEXT CAMDEN BRIsFING

Council

Rather we should escalate our campaign, through the Council's Civil Rights Unit, for police accountability, the need for which is evident more than ever in the new Public Order Act, the Chief Constable of Manchester's refusal to get rid of plastic bullets, the death of Cynthia Jarrett, or the shooting of Cherry Groce.

Accountability cannot be achieved in the Police Consultative Committee where all the ‘operational matters' are kept off the agenda. In Tottenham, where the Labour Group decided against participation, Bernie Grant was able to speak on behalf of those on Broadwater Farm, maxing the political implications of those events clear.

Taking part in the Consultative Committee means accepting the agenda and terms of reference set out by the police which, in the end, means supporting activities in the community. We in Camden don't want to find ourselves with a Council that is forced to support the police rather than the people. The political expediency that participation in the Consultative Committee represents cannot be worth the price we must pay for it.

MiaTING

Tuesday 3rd December, 8 pm

Camden Town Hall.

with Silent Night Striker and

John McDonnell.

LSS ae RE Se LL A EES MSI SE ANGLE PRS RRL DISSE On Sa

These are the sort of measures

Stand by Liverpool the Tories would like to see implemen-

ted, but they have left it to Kinnock and Willis to advocate them. Whatever tactical disagreements

By Frederic Leplat (GLC NALGO & , socialists may have with the Liverpool Somers Town LP) Labour Grouy, we have to stand by them against the government, just

AFTER HAVING refused to organise a like the people of Liverpool have Campaign in support of the councils done through their massive defying the Rates Act, the leadershig demonstrations. of the major unions, and of the A short term financial solution Lavour Party in particular, are may be found, but it probably will making sure that Liverpool's campaign force the Liverpool Council to ends. Kinnock and. Willis have break with its electoral commitments allowed Liverpool to be isolated, to provide jobs, housing and all and despite knowing that it is one the services that the working clas™ of the most deprived cities in Hurope, need at a price it can afford. they now want to pass on the fin- The defeat of the NUM, the ancial burden of the crisis on to the successful abolition of the GLC and backs of the working class of Liverpool. the Met Counties and now the

this is what a special 15% rate implementation of the Rates act, rise, a rise in rents, a freeze on have taken place because of the recruitment, and a 'capitaiisation' deliberate attitude of the Labour of the housing repairs programme and 1UC leaders who left these mean. a struggles isolated.

EL LE ETT TTT

Miners Amnesty Campaign

MINSRS wHO were sacked during the strike are still fighting for an amnesty and are suffering hardship as they will never get a job with another employer. The sackings were done against the provisions of the Employment Act and were

designed to cripple the NUM's organisation and ability to be the ieading union in the labour movement.

At both the Labour Party and the TUC mnferences, the NUM motion calling for the reinstatement of sacked and jailed miners and repayment of NUM funds lost

during the strike, was carried in spite of opposition from the N&C and the General Council.

The Amnesty Campaign is gaining momentum in the labour movement after the

failure of the Orgreave riot show trials, and has had some successes on reinstatement. Support the camyaign by getting speakers to your branch and

and coming to the rally. The speakers will be - billy Etherington NUM NC, Bernie Grant, Jack Collins, Sian James (Women Against Pit Closures).

RALLY #OR A CAMPAIGN FOR SACKED MINERS

THURSDAY 28th NOVuMBER - 7-30pm - CAMDEN TOWN HALL.

The Amnesty “Campaign is sponsored by the Campaign Group of MPs, Jimmy Knapp NUR, Ray Buckton ASLEF, Jim Slater NUS, Alan Sapper ACCT.

for further information teiephone ua 607 4793

aE eM ENE LS LE IS SST IE ESET EE