Conspiracy charges 'threaten civil rights

BY JOHN THE increasing use of conspiracy charges in cases of a political nature was highlighted at the annual conference of the National Council of Civil Liberties at the weekend.

In its annual report council warns that 'the spiracy law continues to a dangerous threat to SPENCER pose liberty'. This by speakers ence, some experience.

was borne out at the co nferfrom their Speakers pointed out that in a conspiracy trial the prosecution can make use of evidence about 'your life-style, your friends, your opinions, all things which would never be allowed in another criminal case The report refers specifically to the 'Oz' and IT' trials, the Aldershot bomb trial and the case of James Roche and Bowes Egan, charged with conspiring to throw a CS canister into the House of Commons.

Peter Hain, himself the of a private prosecution on conspiracy charges last year, said that it is 'an incredibly chastening experience' to be tried on a conspiracy charge.

*Things you have said and written are brought up at the trial in a setting which is totally removed from the political context in which they took place,' he said.

'In addition conspiracy charges force people to prove their innocence, reversing the basic principle of British law that a man is innocent until proved guilty.' Other speakers drew attention to the recent judgement of the Court of Appeal in the Kamara case, which established that criminal conspiracy can exist even though the defendants were not planning to commit a criminal offence.

In the Kamara case a group of Sierra Leone students were found guilty of conspiracy after an attempt to occupy the embassy in London. The occupation-a form of trespass-was not in itself a criminal offence.

Member Eric Thompson challenged the NCCL policy of seeking an 'early review' of the law on conspiracy and advocated the total abolition of this offence.

It was 'terribly convenient' for the authorities to use conspiracy charges against minority groups, he said.

find myself strongly attracted by idea of abolishing the law conspiracy, Mr Thompson said.

Other speakers pointed out the dangers to the trade unions posed by conspiracy law, particularly since the passing of the Industrial Relations Act.

THE 58 British Leyland engine assemblers who have been on strike for five weeks, forcing management to lay off over 2,300 men at its five Lancashire bus and truck factories, have decided to return to work on Monday.

The assemblers, who have been pursuing a claim for extra track allowance, nave won • an immediate £l increase in their pay packets, although this will be subsumed by any future plantwide increase.

SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE LECTURES Merthyr Tydfil Given by Gerry Healy, National Secretary Socialist Labour Leagu Wednesday May 9 he materialist conception Wednesday May 16 ialectical Materialisma Marxist theorv of knowledge Wednesday May 23 Theory and Practise of Marxism Wednesday May 30 ole of the revolutionary Par of the revolutionary David's Church H urch Street, Mert 1yr 7.30 p.m.

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SLL Central Committee membe Civic Hall, Jarrow 7.30 p.m.

Mondays May 7, 14 and The Socialist Revolution Britain : 1. Political tasks facing the British working class. Marxism