Trespassers will be persecuted | IMGpapers 1976

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Heathite propossible moves to make criminal offence mal actor. A conference has been called for this weekend to organise the fight against trespass a naDoenedsaw that the Pueens oseeen opening the next session of Parliament, will include a Bill incorporating the Law commission's proposals to clamp down on squatting and various forms of indus- oitensive weapons.

offence, which means that the police are At present trespass is only a civil fence not empowered to intervene in a factory occupation ora scuattee nouse uniess d criminal offence has been committed. In practice the police are able to move in on the most spurious grounds; but the new Bill, if passed, would give them sweeping new powers to smash direct action by Bill is holiday. In fact this type of case, greatly played up by the press, has hardly ever as ne home onrice itsel has been forced to admit.

The five provisions of the Law Commission's crate bill create oriences con cerned with the 'threat of violence' [real or imagined] and the possession of Causes like inese give a free hand for the police to intervene on mere suspicion, while failure tc leave premises becomes a criminal or By focussing this Bill on squatters, the Law commission ane Government an attempting to divert opposition by trade The TUC General Council has tallen tor inis ov oooosing oniv cenal provisions of the Bill. In fact the entire designed to attack not just necessan notus toexo ain now inebi will affect workers, but also to take up the fight to defend squatters' rights anc Tor ine luG to taxe a DosTon otor opposition to the Bill. Already the Cam paign Against a Criminal Trespass Lav CALL nas ine amation or AGil an NUPE nationally as well as many loca labour movement bodies.

This support must be extended fighting for union branches and Consti Labour Parties to affiliate to sition to the Government's measures an the TUC's acquiesence in them The conference being held this week end at Reading University is.a ster forward in that campaign. It will includ SesSIons oI -austral Occupations Squatting, Direct Action and the Cuts and Wo omen and Direct Action.

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RED WEEKLY 25 November 1976 5