POLICE BLOCKADE TOWN AS 1,000 PICKET COURT CASE

Workers Press no. 1023, 16 March 1973 · scan pages 2, 3

Topics: Police and the courts, Building workers

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building workers, dockers and steelmen-yesterday swamped the town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire to protest against a conspiracy trial against 24 building workers:

The workers calling for the release of their colleagues faced a solid wall of about 400 police ringed the courthouse.

Inside Shrewsbury magistrate's court 24 building workers were committed for jury trial on a total of 210 charges ranging from conspiracy and intimidation to causing actual bodily ON-THE-SPOT REPOR The police stood three deep outside the courthouse behind specially-erected barriers. Others walked the area with savage Alsatian dogs.

At one point demonstrators chanted 'Jackboots' and 'Ges. tapo' The police operation-almost 1,000 were Involved-was mounted by the West Mercian Constabulary with assistance DAVID MAUDE All 24 men are charged roth with fighting and causing an affray, and with intimidation and under a 98-year-old Act Parliament.

This charge reads: "That you ... wrongfully and without legal authority intimidated divers people with a view to compelling those people to abstain from their lawful work, contrary to Section 7(1) of the Conspiracy

Press,