NCJ Number
77594
Date Published
1980
Length
203 pages
Annotation
This volume presents six issues of the State Research Bulletin, assessing developments in British policy between October 1979 and September 1980 in the areas of law, policing, internal security, espionage, and the military. It includes an introduction by a Labour Member of Parliament.
Abstract
Benn takes issue with the British establishment's views of the state of civic freedom in Britain, in the 'free world,' and in the Communist world and suggests a different view of political freedom and the elements that threaten it. Benn argues that the rights of British citizens have been eroded over the years by establishment figures who give priority to the interests of capital and that high technology, the psychology behind nuclear war, and other factors threaten Britain's security and liberties. He recommends such reform measures as adoption of an effective freedom of information act, establishment of genuine collective ministerial control over the police, reestablishment of effective House of Commons control over ministers, restoration to Parliament of all its sovereign powers, the reinstatement of legal safeguards for the liberties of the citizen, accountability of all police forces to elected local authorities, and establishment of a free and independent media. Individual articles in the bulletin discuss use of troops and police in strikes, development of a police computer in Manchester, the Scottish criminal justice bill, the SALT-2 treaty, jury practices, police support units, and accountability of London's police force. Other topics addressed are police complaints, telephone tapping, immigration laws, and deaths in police custody in Scotland. Each bulletin presents a compilation of news and developments on these and other topics, a related background paper, book reviews, and a list of articles (with bibliographic information and a brief description of each citation) on related topics. A subject and name index to bulletins 14-19 is appended.