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- F 1 r J I _ _ _ __ I 1 1 ,~—~_* i ______. . 1| 1 I ——~ _—* —-l_ — — L' ' J’ r I iii ' " '______— — — — _ _' '——— , ,1" * — _ ,_ _ ;; I 4 _ ' . State Research ' Papers (which are available at 20p each inc. p&p): no. 1: The Institute for the An independent group of investigators Study of Conflict; no. 2: The Special collecting and publishing information Branch; no. 3: Secrecy and Security: from publicsources on developments in the background to the Official Secrets state policy, particularly in the fields of Acts and their use; no. 4: The Politics the law, policing, internal security, of Public Order. espionage and the military. It also exam- ines the links between the agencies in Contents these fields and business, the Right and paramilitary organisations. News and developments . . . . 75-86

State Research Bulletin Strikes: Queen’s Regulations The Atomic Police Published bi-monthly in April, June 9 Vetting Job applicants August, October and December. Contri- Control of London’s Police butions to the Bulletin are welcomed; The Special Branch they should be sent to the above address. k The Right to Strike Subscriptions P Police Law and Order Campaign IDENTITY CARDS - THE ATOMIC POLICE - VETTING Crime: fact and fiction Subscribers receive: the bi-monthly Intemal security g JOB APPLICANTS - EEC SECURITY CO-OPERATION— 7 Bulletin, an annual Index, and an annual EEC Security Co-operation overview of the year. London: Ban on Marches Mnxcaiilliilss _ POLICE DRIVE FOR LA\lV Aivo ORDER Rates: Britain and Europe: £3.00 pa Military involvement in the Third World individuals, £6,00 institutions/0rgan- Mercenaries troops in the firemen’s strike was isations (payment only in sterling). contrary to the directives laid down in Elsewhere (by Air Mail): US $8.00 pa Reviews...... 87-90 the Queen’s Regulation for the Army individuals, US $16.00 pa institutionsf (Guardian 20/3/78). The Regulations organisations. Bulk rates on application. state that troops can be used in industrial Single/sample copies 45p/$1.00 (inc. p&p). Democracy and Security: The Pencourt disputes in two situations, under what is File, by Barrie Penrose and Roger termed ‘Military Aid to the Civil The Review of Security and the State Courtiour STRIKES: QUEEN’S Ministries’ (MACM). The first is when a U.S. Foreign Policy: Supplying Repression Vol. 1., will be published in the state of emergency is proclaimed under _ 4 4 _--.R.E_GULATIONS_ __ , , 4 4' __ _ by Michael Klare the 1920 Emergency Powers Act, ‘in a autumn by Julian Friedmann Publishers. Books and pamphlets received This will contain our year’s work in The Ministry Of Defence (MOD) are to situation where the supply and distribution of the essential of life to the hardback form, i.e. issues 1-7 of State Background Paper ...... 91-97 change the Queen’s Regulations for the Research Bulletin (October 1977- Army in order to legitimate the use of — community are extensively threatened ...’ (Reg. J11.004 a.). The second is ‘where September 1978), an introductory over- Identity Cards -— in war and peace troops in national strikes. This change view of the year and an index. Hardback will give the military a power which there is no proclamation and the (jacketed) £10.00. Orders direct to: Typeset by Poland Street Publications, parliament clearly did not intend them to emergency is limited and local, the Julian Friedmann Publishers, 4 Perrins 9 Poland Street, London W1. have when it passed the 1964 Emergency Defence Council may, under the Lane, Hampstead, London N.W.3. Printed by Russell Press, Gamble Street, Powers Act, under which troops were Emergency Powers Act 1964, authorise Nottingham. used in the firemen’s strike. In effect, the Service personnel to be temporarily Back issues Trade distribution PDC, 27 Clerkenwell MOD, via the Defence Council (who will employed on work which the Council Issues no. 1-4 were produced in a Close, London ECl. have to authorise the change), will be have approved as being urgent work of duplicated format, but they are in short Published by Independent State Research establishing far-reaching new powers national importance’ (Reg. 'J11.004 b., supply and are currently only available to Publications, 9 Poland Street, without any reference to parliament. our emphasis). subscribers. These back issues, in addition London W1. This decision followed an admission This latter regulation clearly reflects to carrying news and reviews sections, by the MOD, after the report in State the intention of parliament in passing included the following Background ISSN 0141.._1667 Research Bulletin no. 4, that the use of the 1964 Act, but the use of the troops

Page 98/S ta te Research Bulletin N0 5/April"-May 1 978 April—May 1978/Page 75 in the f1remen’s strike was neither Regulations will remove the contradiction Justice Parker’s conclusion is that the private army which was not ultimately ‘limited’ nor ‘local’, it was ‘extensive’ from the point of view of the Ministry of former must be given an overriding answerable, as are other police forces, to and ‘national’. In order to regularise the Defence. But another contradiction priority. an elected body or to the Home use of troops in national strikes the MOD remains, whether in a parliamentary Secretary’, and that their arms and new The AEA Constabulary powers ‘conflicts with all our traditions have announced that they intend to democracy the MOD and the Defence ' 1 simply delete the words ‘limited and Council should be allowed to simply of civilian and politically accountable local’ when the Regulations are next re-write the rules so as to give themselves The AEA Constabulary, currently 400 policing’. reprinted, thus giving themselves powers which parliament clearly never strong, recruits independently from the unlimited powers in this respect. Whether intended them to have. police. Its powers were originally defined Vetting and surv_eillance this will be a matter of weeks, months or by the Special Constables Act of 1923, years is not known. part of which allowed the creation of Three groups of people would become The 1964 Emergency Powers Act was as er PAILHE A-TQMICF POLICE W 1 specialised police forces to guard military subject to vetting and surveillance. All introduced in parliament, by Henry ‘What is the answer to the charge that ‘yards and stations’. These forces could the workers employed in the industry Brooke, the Conservative Home Secretary, fast breeder nuclear reactors will put our operate within a 15 mile radius of such would be ‘vetted’, so too would their premises. However, under the Atomic on the grounds that the 1920 Act only civil liberties at the mercy of an extended families and ‘known associates’. The Energy Authority (Special Constables) covered the use of troops in industrial armed constabulary with sweeping procedure would be similar to the Act 1976, the AEA Constabulary was disputes, and that the government wanted powers of arrest, answerable to no elected ‘positive vetting’ process carried out powers to use troops for other body, and of a secret service effectively given sweeping new and exceptional under the direction of the security contingencies — such as floods, severe answerable to no one? ’ (Mr. Leo Abse, powers. They are now allowed to carry service, MI5, of civil servants and winters, or bad harvests. The current House of Commons, 2/12/77). arms at all times; to engage in what is workers in the defence-contract industries wording of the Regulations accurately Neither of the questions posed by Mr. termed ‘hot pursuit’ of thieves or (this process is described in the Radcliffe reflect the intention of parliament which Abse have been satisfactorily answered. attempted thefts of nuclear materials; the Report: ‘Security Procedures in the Public Services’, Cmnd 1681, 1962). This passed the Act with little or no debate, First, the Atomic Energy Authority right to enter any premises at will; and given its uncontroversial nature (there (AEA) Constabulary, who guard nuclear the power to arrest on suspicion. The Act entails detailed, private, and intimate was a short debate on the second reading, installations and the movement of also removed the 15-mile limits placed by knowledge of a prospective employee and and it was passed without a vote being plutonium, were given far-reaching new the 1923 Act on their jurisdiction, and her or his acquaintances. taken). powers by Act of Parliament in 1976. substituted the word ‘property’ for By far the largest group to be affected Until 1977 the power granted under Second, because of a presumed terrorist ‘premises’ to cover both installations and (almost certainly without their knowledge) the 1964 Act (S.2.) had only been used threat, there would be an even greater nuclear material in transit. The Royal will be those placed under surveillance by in ‘limited’ and ‘local’ situations, twice need for the security service (MI5) to Commission estimated that the number the security service (and the Special in Glasgow for strikes by firemen and vet all the workers directly involved of transfers (by road and rail) of Branch) who they consider to be dustmen, and during a dustmens strike in together with their families and plutonium between installations will be ‘potential’ terrorists. During the the London borough of Tower Hamlets in acquaintances, and for much wider several hundred a year by the year 2000, Windscale inquiry the Department of 1970. surveillance of the population to spot and several thousands by 2030. Energy was asked to define exactly who The critical distinction between the potential terrorists and ‘subversives’, Although the powers of the AEA might fall into this category. A Press 1920 and the 1964 Emergency Powers if Britain embarks on a major nuclear Constabulary have been increased there is release, issued by the Department of Acts is that under the 1920 Act energy programme. Whereas the Royal to be no greater accountability than Energy, stated: ‘Bodies and individuals parliament has to agree to a state of Commission on Environmental Pollution, before. It will be accountable only to the opposed to the development of nuclear emergency being declared, to pass under Sir Brian Flowers, said that: ‘The AEA, which is not an elected body. It is power would not be subject to Regulations drawn up by the government unquantifiable effects of security an appointed body responsible to the surveillance unless there was reason to (which include the use of troops in measures that might become necessary Secretary of State for Energy, Mr. Benn, believe that their activities were specified roles), and to renew the in the plutonium economy of the future who, in tum, is answerable to parliament. subversive, violent or otherwise unlawful’. Regulations for each month of the should be a major consideration in any But, the powers of the Secretary of State , When pressed at the inquiry to say emergency. The 1964 Act makes no decision concerning a substantial increase over the AEA are limited, and he is not what the term ‘subversive’ meant, Mr. provision for parliamentary in the nuclear power programme’ answerable to parliament for their day-to- Herzig, the Department of Energy accountability at all. The power to (‘Nuclear Power and the Environment’, day activities. Under the Atomic Energy representative, quoted from a speech Act 1954 (S.3.), he may issue directions authorise the use of troops is vested in Cmnd 6618,). The report of the made by Lord Harris, Minister of State the 13-member Defence Council over Windscale Inquiry by Mr. Justice Parker ‘general or particular in character’, but at the Home Office, when he said: which parliament has no statutory power published in March simply dismisses this he may not intervene in the detail of their ‘Subversion is defined as activities of veto. argument. Where the dangers of terrorism operations except where the national threatening the safety or wellbeing of The deletion of the offending words, in a ‘plutonium economy’ are weighed interest so requires. Mr. Abse commented the State and intended to undermine or ‘limited and local’, from the Queen’s against the erosion of civil liberties, that the 1976 Act ‘in effect created a overthrow parliamentary democracy by Page 76/State Research Bulletin No 5/April—May 1978 Stete Reeeereh BWeti" Ne 5/AP"'1—Mey 1978/Pege 77

' political, industrial or violent means’ programme. As to the very wide (House of Lords, 26.2.75, our emphasis.). definition given to the term ‘subversive’ categories of education and social work police officer had reported a nurse, in There is no crime in British law of by the Department of Energy and the jobs. Councillor Nolan told The ‘Scotsman derogatory terms, to the Central ‘subversion’, but it is a concept long used Home Office, Justice Parker responds by (6.3.7 8) that these checks were carried Midwives’ Board who had not been by the security services, and now stating that there are ‘people with evil out without the knowledge or permission convicted of any offences. Mr Carr I I increasingly also by Home Office purpose’ (unspecified) who want to of the applicants, with no right of appeal reported (Hansard 14/6/73) that a Ministers and officials, Mr Abse sweep away the ‘system of government’ or right to challenge the information working party of Home Office officials commented on the Department of Energy and the ‘rule of law’ which has ‘taken given by the police. He said it was ‘a gross and Chief Constables had reviewed the statement that: ‘Under the term centuries to build’ (para 7.23). infringement of basic civil rights’. The situation. Their conclusions were that: “subversion”, authority could readily His conclusion is that’ ‘The problem reason for the initial rejection of the man suspected offences were not to be and secretly be given for the surveillance is easy to state but there is no easy for the job was still not known. ‘It could reported, that the individual concemed of individuals or bodies having political, solution. Indeed I can see no solution at have been a parking conviction, should be informed, that arrangements religious or philosophical views or beliefs all. If the sort of activities under involvement with left-wing politics, only applied to new convictions reported of which the government of the day consideration (terrorism) are to be criminal activities —- I just don’t know’. in open court, and that three specific happens to disapprove, although there checked, innocent people are certain to commented Councillor Nolan. groups of people were involved. _.__.4%Iwj: may be nothing unlawful about these be subject to surveillance, if only to find As a result of the case, Nolan asked for The three groups where new views or beliefs or the activities of those out whether they are innocent or not. a full explanation from the Regional convictions would be reported to a who hold them’ (2.12.77). Equally certainly friends and relatives Council, and in particular about professional or public body were: 1) On the definition offered by Mr Herzig, will be subjected to distasteful and safeguards on the accuracy and relevance Doctors (to the General Medical Council), taken from Lord Harris’s speech, Mr Abse embarrassing enquiries’ (our emphasis). of the information supplied by the police, nurses (General Nursing Council), said in the same debate: ‘There are many The only caveat Justice Parker adds is and the applicant’s right of appeal. He teachers and youth leaders (Home Office), legitimate activities of a political and that ‘the interference with our liberties said the reply confirmed ‘my worst fears all because they are in ‘positions of trust’, industrial nature which might be should go no further than our protection (Scotsman 7.3.78). It said that applicants 2) Civil servants, Atomic Energy perceived by power holders as threatening demands’ and that ‘if’ it does, then there were not told there would be a check Authority staff, Post Office employees the wellbeing of the State’ (2.1 2.77). should be ‘some Minister answerable to with the police, that the only safeguards (all to the employing department), ‘in the Parliament’ (para 7.24). Who is to decide rested with the police making checks, and interests of security’, and 3) Barristers

_-.-_,i.___.__,_-__ The Windscale Inquiry report if this situation has been reached? And that as applicants were not told of the and solicitors (Law Society), as they are just how is ‘some Minister’ to become process, the question of a right of appeal responsible for the administration of the Even more distrubing are the answerable to parliament while Britain did not arise. The basis for the checks law, and magistrates (Home Office). The conclusions of Mr Justice Parker in his has a security service (MI5) which, in the were, said the Council, to see if there police were only to report serious report on the Windscale Inquiry, in a words of Mr Abse, ‘could scarcely have were any convictions that might make convictions (eg violence, dishonesty, chapter entitled ‘Terrorism and Civil been more carefully devised to remove its applicants unsuitable for work with drink, drugs) if they reflected on ‘a Liberties’. The chapter opens with the operations from any kind of democratic young people. person’s suitability to continue in their statement that ‘in the public interest’ scrutiny’? It appears that the methods of profession or office.’ Only for magistrates existing physical security precautions (at carrying out the checks also varied. For would all offences be reported. the plant and during transportation), and social work jobs, the police supplied The only instance of applicants (as the extent of existing personnel vetting VETTINS3 JQB APPLICANTS information and left the decision to the distinct from those in post) being had been excluded from the Inquiry A Lothian Regional councillor has said council officials, while for educational checked, laid down in the procedure was (para 7.2). Whatever the imagined that only his intervention stopped a man posts no information was supplied, for people applying to join police forces. terrorist threat Justice Parker states: ‘I being wrongly rejected for a job with the only a recommendation or otherwise as draw attention to the following: a. Council after his application had been to the person’s suitability. CONTROL or LONDON’S Although plutonium has been produced secretly vetted by the Lothian and and moved both intra- and inter- Borders Police. The man had applied for The national practice J g POLICE “T nationally for over 25 years there has not a non-teaching education post and, after The Greater London Council Staff been any terrorist abstraction or threat being turned down, had approached his In 1973, Mr Robert Carr, the Home Association, which represents 20,000 so far as is known’ (para 7.6.). Regional Councillor, Paul Nolan. Secretary, was asked to state the position white collar workers at County Hall, has The report simply rejects the position Councillor Nolan raised the matter with taken by the Home Office in issuing called for the Metropolitan Police to be put by the Royal Commission that the the local authority, and after a second directives to the police on supplying made accountable to the GLC. Mr Fred security measures necessary for a check with the police, the man was given information on convictions to outside Hollocks, the Association’s Secretary said: plutonium economy ‘should be a major the job. bodies. Although the procedure had been ‘Scotland Yard’s former national role has consideration in any decision’ regarding It appears that the Council carries out laid down in a number of Home Office been largely superseded by regional crime the expansion of the nuclear power police checks on applicants for specific circulars (151/1954; 77/1955; 11/1961; squads, so there was no reason why the 4/1969) a case had arisen where a senior Metropolitan Police should not come Page 78/State Research Bulletin No 5/April—May 1 978 State Research Bulletin No 5/April—May 1978/Page 79 under the democratic control of London re-emphasised in a recent parliamentary pressure ‘influential individuals’ to ratepayers like other county police forces’ debate by Dr Shirley Summerskill, Under POLICE: A NEW DRIVE re-establish the rule of law. (Evening Standard, 30/1/78). Secretary for the Home Office, when she When some MPs criticised these All of the forty-three police forces said: ‘The fact that London is our capital FOR LAW AND ORDER 7’ '*'] *’_t *1 I I 7 77 blatant attempts at political intervention, city creates special problems of a scale in England and Wales (and the eight in the Federation replied in its journal that are not found anywhere else in the Scotland), with the exception of the In February, the Police Federation Police that it was drawing on the lessons Metropolitan Police, are accountable to UK’ (Hansard, 19/1/78). Dr Summerskill launched a major propaganda campaign of pressure groups who had succeeded in local ‘police authorities’. These local cited amongst these ‘special problems’, with the aim of making ‘law and order’ mobilising public opinion. Jardine claims police authorities (formerly known as demonstrations, acts of terrorism, a General Election issue. Its chairperson, that the Federation will ‘tell the people watch committees) are comprised of two- financial and commercial fraud linked to James Jardine, has asked the major the truth’ about growing crime and the City, and tourism. Although this is thirds elected local councillors and one- political parties to state their solutions to clearly the case the same could be said of disorder, and it will be up to the politicians third from local magistrates. Since their the problem of law and order in their to respond. formation in 1829, the Metropolitan most major cities, albeit on a smaller manifestoes and although he has pledged This campaigning approach by the Police have never been under local scale. that the police will keep out of party police has obviously been encouraged by control. Instead they are directly The greater proportion of the work of political arguments, it is clear that the the success of Sir Robert Mark in giving answerable to the Home Secretary who, London’s police is not concerned with campaign involves criticism of the present the force a political voice. It was he who in addition to his many other the ‘special problems’ mentioned by Dr Government’s political and economic first broke with the historical practice responsibilities, reports on their behalf to Summerskill but with everyday law policy towards the police and the admin- whereby police chiefs exerted behind-the- parliament. London ’s police are therefore enforcement on the streets, and a glance istration of justice. scenes pressure and left public campaign- in theory accountable to the House of at the annual crime figures for the city Commons. The rationale behind this The campaign is intended to highlight ing to the politicians responsible for will confirms this. two current trends: the rise in violent arrangement is that the primarily role of policing. Sir Robert’s attack on the jury crime and public disorder, the drop in the Metropolitan Police is national — the system and rules of evidence foreshadowed THE SPECIAL BRANCH police recruitment» and to su88est there the Federation’s criticisms in their 1975/6 policing and protection of the capital ‘ 7‘ or 7 ’ * W is a causal relationship between them. city ~~- and that the policing of the campaign of sentencing policy, prison Jardine has pointed out that in 19 76, regimes, social workers, teachers, pro- community in London is secondary. So In recent months there has been - - - b t th t, _t_ f th when cnmelncreased 1% over the p1‘€Vl011S bation officers and court officials. The despite the fact that half of the costs of concern a ou e ac 1v1 res o e year, recrurtrng reached record levels. In the Metropolitan Police are borne by recurrent theme was that life was becom- Special Branch and its immunity from 1977, a 15% increase in crime coincided local rates, the London ratepayers have democratic control. The latest statement ing harder for the police and easier for with over 5,000 resignations and a net the criminal, because the courts and no access to the work of the force by the Home Secretary, Merlyn Rees, loss of 2,000 officers in England and social services were ‘soft’ on offenders. through their elected councillors. made in reply to questions in the House Wales. Low pay is, of course, cited as one Last November, the GLC Labour of Commons, is unlikely to provide any Recently Jardine returned to this of the major reasons for the drop in theme with a broadside against the “well- Group presented a paper to a meeting of reassurance on this matter: ‘The Special recruitment. But the Federation is also the Council which called for democratic Branch collects information on those meaning but totally misguided experts”, stressing the increasingly dangerous and who, he claims, have “neutralised” justice control of London’s police by the GLC. whom I th'rnk cause problems for the unsatisfactory nature of the job and The same policy is also held by the State.’ (Hansard, 2.3.78). in Britain. He also attacked the level of criticising all branches of the legal system public expenditure (2% of the total) going Greater London Region of the Labour for failing to give the police adequate Party to justice administration, calling for W131 th L d B h THE RIGHT To STRIKE g support in the courts. better pay and equipment for the police 1 e e on on Oroug S ~ e ee - e I A "e ~ --e T1115 approach 15 in fag]; 3’ ggntjn- and for speeding up of the legal process. Association, comprised of councillors uation of the Federation’s public campaign from the 32 boroughs, have gone even Lord Denning, Master of the Rolls He has already won the support of on ‘law and order’ launched at the end of further in demanding that the (head of th t fA 1 'd' Shadow Home Secretary Mr Whitelaw, 9 Cour 0 ppea S3’ m a 1975 Then, as now, Area Federation who has pledged ‘unstinting backing’ for Metropolitan Police should be Speech at Birmingham University (3_'3'78)‘ representatives took every opportunit to accountable at borough level. Local I would declare at once that there 1s Y the police and “the widest range of speak to community groups, women’s penalties so that the punishment fits the authority funding of the force comes, it no such right known to the law, not at institutes, Rotary Clubs, Conservative argued, not from the GLC but from each any rate when it is used so as to inflict crime”, Associations, schools etc. on the subject The ‘law and order’ campaign is one London borough. great harm on innocent bystanders, to of rising crime, particularly among young These demands have been resisted by expression of the difficulties posed for disrupt essential services or to bring the people. A specially produced pamphlet the Home Office, and the Police the police by changing forms of crime country to a halt. So far as the law is attacked the 1969 Children and Young Federation too are quite satisfied with concerned, those who do such things are and political protest. Many police officers Persons’ Act for its leniency. Another the status quo. The primacy of the force’s exercising not a right but a great power, wish to retain their image as peaceful, depicted bleeding police after demon- national, as distinct from local, role was the power to strike.’ peace-keeping community servants, an strations and called for the public to image in sharp contrast with the increasing 1 l Page 80/S ta te Research Bulletin N0 5/April—-May 1978 S tale Research Bulletin No 5/April—May 1978/Page 81 December 8-11, 1977, according to the anti-terrorist operations. Once the idea is number of officers having to undertake (1975) to 30% (1977). text of an Army document published in well ingrained, the actual practice won’t weapons training, and their controversial Although the media is always quick Socialist Worker (Feb 25, 1978). The take them too much by surpise.’ public order role. Though it won’t prevent to emphasise a rise in crime, and the num- document comes from the Royal Electrical police casualties, a rise in status and re- ber of recorded indictable offences have and Mechanical Engineers Training cognition of the value of their job is clearly risen from around 1.5 million in 1969 to Battalion and Depot at Arborfield, near EEC: SECURITY CO-OPERATIO_l_§l, one intended effect of the campaign. 2.4 million in 1977, these figures are in Reading in Berkshire, and contains the But in seeking directly to mobilise fact highly suspect. There is a distinction following scenario: the ‘silent majority’, the Federation is between the amount of actual crime ‘As a result of increasing Communist In December 1975 at its Paris meeting making a political intervention into the committed and that which is reported to influence in the West, and the use of the European Council agreed that the law-making and legal process. The danger the police and recorded by them. Recent more militant rather than purely political Ministers of the Interior (the Home is that the distinction between law-making studies suggest that the level of crime tactics by extremists, there have been Secretary in Britain) of each of the EEC (the job of parliament), law-interpreting committed, by and large, remains constant observed in various remote parts of the countries should meet to consider how and sentencing (the judiciary and the while the number reported goes up each country, the formation of bands of the nine could co-operate to combat courts) and law-enforcement (the role of year. It is further suggested that the insurgers (sic) or guerillas bent on the terrorism. However there are indications the police), will become blurred. Unless extent of crime committed is far larger overthrow of our democratic government. that this brief has in practice already the Government publicly rejects this than crimes reported to the police. Such insurgers appear to be living in such extended beyond the question of terrorism type of political campaigning by the A four-year study, Surveying Victims remote parts of the country as Brecon, into areas of legitimate opposition to traditionally, and theoretically neutral (by Sparks, Genn and Dodd, John Wiley Cumbria and the Scottish Highlands. the state and that of ‘maintaining the police in Britain, basic civil liberties in and Sons 1978), found that the volume ‘Following an assessment by Intel- stability of democratic societies in areas such as detention may be eroded of indictable crime in the areas (Hackney, ligence of the best tactics to be employed western Europe’. simply because it would make the police Brixton and Kensington) covered by their in countering this uprising, it has been The original proposal for these meet- job easier. survey ‘was over 11 times greater than the decided to send certain crack units to ings came from Harold Wilson on behalf police statistics suggest.’ The study Dartmoor for arduous training. In order of the British government. The first meet- indicates that ‘crime waves’ (e.g. mugging) to make such training realistic, it must be ing of the Ministers of the Interior, took - CRIN-II*3= FACT AND FICTION J which have a habit of making easy news- assumed that all civilians are possible place in Luxembourg in June 1976; Roy paper headlines may be statistical illusions, insurgers and contact with them be avoid- Jenkins, then Home Secretary, represented resulting from a greater propensity to ed at this stage. Units tasked to complete Britain. The second meeting took place The 1977 crime figures for England report categories of crime which are in I. this training will go on long distance the following year (May 197 7) in London, > and Wales show that the number of the news. patrols and undergo survival and initiative and was chaired by Merlyn Rees. These J indictable (i.e. excluding summary) What the rise in reported crime may training to gain experience of operating meetings at ministerial level initiated four tr offences recorded by the police was well indicate is an increased tendency under field conditions.’ (It is not clear areas of agency-to-agency co-operation 2,463,000 (excluding criminal damage of (which varies from year to year) to from the document whether other within the EEC (i.e. the police forces, £20 and under). This represents a 15% report crimes in working class commun- regiments than the REME were involved intelligence agencies etc.) First, it was increase over the 1976 figure, as against ities, reflecting a traditional reserve and in the exercise.) agreed to exchange information about corresponding increases of 1% in 1976 often hostility of the people living in Two weeks later a letter from an terrorism and techniques for dealing with and 7% in 1975. Despite this large increase, them. Mr Stanley Bailey, Chief Constable anonymous soldier was published in terrorist incidents. Second, working the percentage rise in offences of violence for Northumbria (which covers Tyne and Socialist Worker, saying that the Army groups in technical fields such as forensic against the person increased by 6% as Wear), commented on this aspect in his has been using this kind of scenario for science, computers and police commun- against increases of 10% in 1976 and 11% annual report in 1976, when he said some years, and giving an example of ications and equipment where established. in 1975. that rather than reporting incidents to another exercise in the Sennebridge area Third, plans were made to arrange for the For the third year running, the per- the police, there is a tendency for people of Wales last year in which the enemy was exchange of police personnel between the centage of the total number of offences operating in certain areas to settle differ- a small group of Welsh nationalists. countries, and for closer collaboration in cleared up by the police fell -— from 44% ences between themselves. The soldier makes the point that it is police training. Fourth, means to develop in 1975, to 43% in 1976, and to 41% not the training exercises themselves co-operation in the field of civil aviation in 1977. The clear-up rates for violence which cause concern, as members of all security were discussed. against the person and sexual offences has INTERNAL SECURITY 4. - three armed services undertake similar In November 1977, Merlyn Rees, remained consistently high, at 79% and arduous training regularly, but rather the reporting to parliament on developments, 77% respectively. The biggest drops in scenarios which underly them. The soldier said ‘There are working groups on a wide the clear-up rate are for robbery, from Details of another British Army goes on: ‘I believe that the motive behind range of subjects of concern to the police, 40% (1975) to 28% (1977), and for internal security training exercise have the use of these scenarios is simply to get the security service, and other Govern- criminal damage (a great deal of which is recently come to light. Exercise ‘Christmas the average soldier used to the idea of ment Departments and agencies. Based on better described as vandalism) from 37% Tree’ was staged on Dartmoor from State Research Bulletin N0 5/April—May 1978/Page 83 Page 82/State Research Bulletin No 5/April—May 1978 that initiative of discussion in Europe, ‘Potential’ terrorists. against the Committee of 100. In August which followed from an initiative taken LONDON: BANS ON MARCHES 1962, all political marches were banned by my predecessor, there are constant It is clear that the member countries r7 7 W "'7 7 in London for two days, and finally, a discussions and a constant exchange of of the EEC are working together far more In answer to a qestion by Jo Richard- two-day ban was placed on marches in information. . . The exchange of inform- closely than previously, both at the minis- son MP, Home Secretary Merlyn Rees the East End of London in July 1963. ation is extremely valuable’ (Hansard, terial level and at the agency level. The gave details of all the occasions when For full details on the 1936 Public Order 7.11.77). ackowledged basis for this co-ordination processions had been banned in London Act, see State Research No.4 (Background Rees also reported that visits by is the fight against terrorism. However under S.3(3) of the Public Order Act Paper). aviation security experts to all the major there are numerous indications that this 1936. On February 24, Metropolitan airports in the EEC were in progress. The brief is being used to provide the oppor- Police Commissioner David McNee content and training of techniques of tunity to collect information about, and issued an order under this section of the MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN command training were discussed by the maintain surveillance on, individuals who 1936 Act banning marches in London for THE THIRD WORLD directors of the police academies of all are clearly not terrorists. Merlyn Rees, two months. Twenty-five bans have been the EEC countries when they met at the describing the information that was being placed on marches in London for periods British police training college at Bramshill exchanged between European countries, of time varying from 24 hours to three An indication of the extent of in November 1977. Meetings between said that it was about ‘the activities of months since 1936. The different options Britain’s continuing military involvement ministers to discuss the development of terrorist and subversive groups’ (Hansard, open to the Commissioner of the Metro- in the Third World was given in the European co-operation on anti-terrorist 16.6.77), and ‘known and potential politan Police, and to the Home Secretary Statement on the Defence Estimates measures have also increased. Rees terrorist groups and individuals’ (Hansard, who has to ratify or change a request 1978 (Cmnd 7099, Feb 1978), and in a described as ‘typical’ the two meetings 30.11.77). While Lord Harris, Minister of from the Commisioner, become very parliamentary reply to Stan Newens MP he had with Signor Cossiga, the Italian State at the Home Office, has defined evident. (Hansard, Jan 31, 1978). Minister of the Interior, one in Septem- ‘subversion’ as including political and In September 1961 an order was The Defence Estimates give the ber 1977 in Rome, the other in November industrial activities (Lords, February issued banning any procession by a official picture of the deployment of in London. 1975). Conor Cruise O’Brien, the Irish specific political group — the Committee British troops around the world. In the Military co-operation, such as took ex-politician and now Editor of ‘The of 100 — for 24 hours in Central London. Third World, the largest concentrations place at Mogadishu in October 1977, has Observer’ in an article about terrorism While in July 1963 all political processions are in the colonies of Belize in Central also been an area of growing discussion described student extremists as ‘the body were banned for 24 hours in the East End America and in Hong Kong, where there and action. At the Ministers of the from which terrorists of the German type of London and neighbouring boroughs. are units of all three armed services. Interior meeting in June 1977, it had have been recruited. I have encountered These two examples show that the There is also a battallion of Gurkhas in been agreed that in the event of an these mainly in New York, but also in Commissioner (or a Chief Constable Brunei, an Army Training Team in Oman, imminent threat of terrorist action, the other places from Berkeley to Belfast.’ outside of London) has the discretion to: an Army Advisory Team, a Royal Marines governments of the countries concerned Do these statements mean that students, 1) ban all marches 2) ban marches in Advisory Team and Royal Navy survey should take immediate co-operative trade unionists and political activists are specified areas (e.g. where racial tension vessels in Iran, a Royal Navy party on the action. In December of that year, a joint considered to be ‘subversive’ or ‘potential may be heightened), or 3) ban marches Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, a Anglo-German plan proposed that the terrorists’, and as such, treated by the gov- by a specific group(s) (e.g. the National Royal Navy survey vessel in Ghana, a British SAS and the West German GSG-9 ernment and state agencies as terrorists‘? Front). detachment of Royal Marines in the commandos should help to train elite The connection between terrorism Ten successive bans were made Falkland Islands, and a group of Royal anti-terrorist squads in each EEC country, and ‘subversion’ is far from self-evident, between June 1937 and the outbreak of Navy ships in the Far East. that would then be available to act especially when Home Office ministers the Second World War, prohibiting all The parliamentary reply, however, separately or together as required. In define the latter concept to encompass public processions of a political character shows how Britain is providing behind- March it was announced that Britain quite legitimate democratic activities. in the East End of London. In April the-scenes military assistance to pro- had launched an international training pro- Moreover, Lord Harris, the Minister of 1948 all marches were banned for three Western Third World governments by the gramme on counter-terrorist operations. State, has described the moves towards months in the East End, and between loan of serving British military personnel. The programme, a series of four-day increased collaboration between the May 1948 and February 1949 all marches These people, on occassions, actually seminars looking at police and anny EEC countries in even wider terms. In in London were banned for nine months. take part in or even lead military oper- tactics, weapons and surveillance equip- an article titled ‘The Nine Combat Seven further bans on all marches in ations (as in Oman), but generally they ment, is open only to senior members of Terrorism’, in the January issue of the London were made for three months in are now employed to structure and /or departments responsible for internal official magazine ‘European Community’, March 1949, October 1949, and between train the local armed forces; their influ- security. At the end of March, Britain he says that this collaboration is ‘of February 1950 and February 1951. ence can, therefore, be out all proportion sent members of SAS to Italy to assist crucial importance in maintaining the In September 1960 a three month to their numbers. with training and techniques, after the stability of democratic societies in ban was placed on marches in St. Pancras, In January of this year there were kidnapping of Aldo Moro. Western Europe’. and in September 1961 the ban was made 613 members of the British armed forces

Page 84/State Research Bulletin No 5/April~—-May 1978 Stale RQSQOFC/1 Billie’-I-‘l'l’l NO 5//IPl‘iI“'MO3’ I 978/Page 85 serving with Third World countries, top brass are sympathetic to our cause’ broken down as follows (=1=): (Daily Mail, 30.1.78). The meeting, course of their investigation, Penrose and Courtiour appear to have stumbled on a which took place at the House of Com- cover-up of sorts. Bangladesh ...... 7 mons on January 25, was attended by Belize ...... 8 Their investigation started because John Davies (the Shadow Foreign Sec- Sir Harold Wilson was convinced that Brunei...... 101 retary), and Tory MP Julian Amery, who _ 1 DEMOCRACYAND SECURITY the South Africans were behind the Ecuador...... 1 recently said in a Commons debate that Ghana ...... 6 attacks on Jeremy Thorpe, aided perhaps the governments of Angola and Mozam- THE PENCOURT FILE, by Barrie by a ‘right wing mafia’ inside the security Hong Kong...... 28 bique posed a threat to Britishaccess to Penrose and Roger Courtiour, 423pp, Iran ...... 69 services — of which he was the nominal the vital mineral resources of Southem Seeker and Warburg, £5.90. head. Kuwait ...... 107 Africa (Hansard, 13.378). The authors, journalists, seem to have Malayasia...... 10 What the book suggests is that there Representing the FNLA at the meet- been at a loss as how to present the mass was a cover-up within the Liberal Party Mauritius ...... 1 ing were Dr Sammy Abregada, the Euro- ofmaterial they have collected. This Nepal ...... 1 over Jeremy Thorpe’s relationship with pean representative, and Francisco book is the story of an investigation, and Norman Scott. What seems less clear is Nigeria ...... 20 Pedro, no. 3 in the chain of command to Ni as such, threatens at each moment to Oman ...... 196 the motives of those involved. One of the leader Holden Roberto. Also present was emphasise the investigation at the more preceptive remarks quoted in the Qatar ...... 8 John Banks, the man who was involved in expense of what is being investigated. Saudi Arabia...... 20 book comes from Marcia Williams, Lady recruiting British mercenaries to fight for The book is aptly named. It is indeed Falkender, to the effect that while some Sudan ...... 8 the FNLA in 1976 during the civil war. merely a file, a repository for documents United Arab Emirates. . . 22 of those involved may have been acting Mr Banks acted as chauffeur to Dr Abre- and transcriptions of conversations. The in what they considered to be Thorpe’s gada during his visit to Britain. only right which the information has to * In some cases these may be the same best interests, others may have been Two days after this meeting the I be in a book is the same right which interested in gathering material which troops mentioned in the Defence Estim- Foreign Office issued a statement, osten- documents have to be in a file; roughly, ates deployments above. they could release at their leisure when it sibly because it understood that a party they relate to the same topic. We stand would suit their own political purposes. of mercenaries from Britain were going to back and watch as Penrose and Courtiour Politics, whether played by recognised Another major, but less direct, form travel to Angola in the near future. It clip new material and slot it into place, of military assistance that Britain gives to politicians or by the intelligence services, condemned the links that persisted occasionally noting that this or that Third World countries is providing train- is a long-term game. between British mercenary recruiters and piece of information relates to a ing facilities in the United Kingdom. The two authors agonised the FNLA, and warned that the govern- previously collected specimen. It is unnecessarily over why Sir Harold Wilson Another parliamentary reply to Stan ment could not be responsible for the zoology before Linneaus classified animal ‘chose’ them to take part in the Newens MP (Hansard, Jan 27, 1978) safety of mercenaries. Dr Owen, the species, before Darwin traced their shows that members of the armed forces Foreign Secretary, said in Manchester the investigation. In fact, there is ample relationship with the material world. ' evidence that shortly before and after his of 45 Third World countries were being following day that mercenaries were This regrettablestyle has made ' resignation Wilson was seeking help from trained here in January of this year. damaging Britain’s standing in Africa and dismissal of the book by its critics easy, that the government intended to introduce various unorthodox sources to substantiate and understandable. The authors have his twin worries of South African legislation to ban mercenary recruitiment fallen into the trap which lies open for _ MERCENARIES in this country. The legislation would l involvement and the right wing group " I "'77 _ .7 ,7 .1 I I 1-—'_ j’ W7 77 many investigators whose conclusions implement the recommendations of the Within the security services. Indirectly, lead them to contest the accepted ways Mark Hosenball was one of the Diplock Committee, which was set up in l of looking at the world. Swimming journalists singled out for requests for Shortly after the assumption of January 1976 to examine legislation in against the tide of bourgeois ideology, assistance, and his friends worried that formal diplomatic relations between the this field (see State Research bulletin they feel compelled to present all the British and Angolan governments on no 2). this may have contributed to pressure facts, because the proof of what they say from the security services for his January 16, the British Shadow Foreign Although neither the Foreign Office lies in the minutiae. A writer not seeking Secretary had a meeting with two senior deportation. statement nor Dr Owen referred to the to contest conventional wisdom needs Most of the facts uncovered by representatives of the OLA-backed FNLA, meeting at the House of Commons, their only to hint as attitudes widely-held who are continuing to wage a guerilla Courtiour and Penrose have seen the-light timing indicates that the link between among his or her readers. of day already, in various newspaper war against the government in Angola. senior Tory MPs, the FNLA and a known Nevertheless, the documents which do The purpose of the meeting was to discuss articles. For a Prime Minister and nominal mercenary recruiter was a serious embar- end up in the file are of considerable head of the security services Harold the current situation in Angola, or as rassment to the government, especially as interest. The central character of the Donald Belford, the FNLA representative Wilson’s fear of their political influence is formal diplomatic relations with the new book never appears: South African frankly incredible, viewed from the in Britain, was reported as saying: ‘I set Angolan government had just been influenced dirty tricks against leading up the meeting because some of the Tory standpoint of what is allegedly the opened. politicians remain unproven. But in the constitutional position. The allegation Page 86/State Research Bulletin No 5/April—May 1978 State Research Bulletin No 5/April—May 1978/Page 87 that in 1968, a group of army officers Penrose, but they all had motives l'or technical assistance for internal control paramilitary forces in South Vietnam, and security service personnel were their denials, whereas the authors seem to countries of the Third World by the and ultimately to the direct involvement prepared to stage a coup if the Royal to have no motive for inventing anything. USA. It demonstrates, unequivocally, of 500,000 US soldiers in a futile attempt Family were prepared to back them One has to accept the basic truth of that despite President Carter’s to save the Saigon regime. seems plausible. This information came to their version of events. But that is not commitment to ‘human rights’, the The third phase, from 1969, known as the author through the mysterious Tony enough. They do not explain what the United States continues its postwar the Nixon doctrine, was designed to find Eaton, apparently a former officer of the power of the security services — relatively policy of supplying the means of internal a means of ensuring the survival of British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) out of the control of the Government of repression to countries overseas regardless threatened ‘friendly’ regimes without the whom they met through their contact the day —- implies for constitutional of the dictatorial and fascist nature of direct intervention of US combat troops. with the former Liberal MP Peter Bessell. theory and practice. many of these regimes. The new policy called for a‘greater self- But it was indirectly confirmed when The clear implication, not only behind In the foreword, the Chairman of the defence effort on the part of allies, the authors interviewed the then head of the Pencourt File, but in all ‘unauthorised’ Field Foundation, Ruth Field, sets out backed by increased aid and technical the Security Service (MI5) (whom they versions of the relations between two central criticisms of US policy. If support from the United States’. In order do not name, but who was then Sir ministers and the permanent state America is committed to the right of to re-assure its allies after Vietnam this Michael Hanley). He told them that any apparatus, such as Richard Crossman’s, people to consent to the way they are policy soon took a more aggressive role, information about such developments or Marcia Williams’ own book, is that the governed, ‘then it is hard to see how and the US ‘sought to build up the would have been passed not to the Prime civil servants are in control. The security any government can include among its counterinsurgency forces of selected Minister directly, but to the Home services are simply even less open to purposes assistance in the policing of Third World powers in order to create a Secretary, then Jim Callaghan. influence by Ministers than civil servants persons in other lands, to whom it is in surrogate presence in threatened areas’ Peter Bessell, confessed to the authors normally are. Some Ministers, such as Jim no way accountable and over whom it (for example, in Saudi Arabia, Iran and that when in Parliament, he had been in Callaghan, are clearly more acceptable has no legitimate authority’. Second, that Kuwait in the Persian Gulf). This touch with an American Intelligence than others. Perhaps Wilson was looking by involving itself with other countries’ doctrine soon developed from aiding Agency, though he did not name which too far to the right when he sought the police, the USA is serving a larger interest military and paramilitary forces in these one. The authors pressed him for details mafia in the security services. There than ordinary police work: The other countries to increased support for Third of his services but overlooked the most seems no reason why Callaghan, as good a larger interest our government seeks World police forces. For as an Under obvious " Bessell functioned as an conservative Prime Minister as any since through this involvement is to forestall Secretary of the State Department important ‘agent of influence’ on behalf Stanley Baldwin, should not be or control political change in governments expressed it in 1971: ‘Effective policing of the US and the puppet regime in South acceptable to the security services. But which it deems to be friendly to us, even is like ‘preventive medicine’. The police Vietnam, even inviting South Vietnamese Wilson, given his left-wing background, including dictatorial ones.’ can deal with threats to internal order in ‘parliamentarians’ to lunch in Parliament was just not acceptable. The security At the outset Michael Klare considers their formative states’. under his auspices. services have long, if inaccurate memories, the changing forms of US military aid Uncontestable evidence of the The mystery of why Harold Wilson as the book makes clear. policies in the postwar period. In the repressive and inhuman regimes receiving resigned still remains. The authors hint The issues dealt with in the book are early days of the Cold War, US foreign US aid, including South Korea, the that it may have been connected with important, and it should be read. Most policy was based on the principle of Philippines, Iran, Taiwan and Brazil, led security pressure, and the story of Wilson importantly, the book deals seriously ‘containment’ by supporting anti-, and to demands for limits to be placed on timing his departure with the with the proposition that the military non-communist governments, with US aid. And the overthrow of the announcement of the break-up of the and the security services exert perceptible conventional arms to withstand an Allende government in Chile in 1973 by Margaret-Snowdon marriage to please the political pressure within our external military threat from the Sino- Pinochet’s brutal dictatorship added to Queen (Wilson always had a soft spot for ‘parliamentary democracy’ and that this Soviet bloc. The second phase followed these demands. In December 1974 the the Queen) is well known. Once again, pressure can outweigh that of the the Cuban Revolution of 1959, when Foreign Assistance Act was passed which, Marcia Williams provides a thought politicians. That is a very subversive Batista’s US armed conventional forces, for the first time, embraced the principle provoking quote, to the effect that notion. 1’K. geared to defence against external attack, that aid should be denied to governments Wilson may have thought himself an were defeated by internal guerrilla forces. which engaged in systematic violations of The threat of national liberation wars human rights. Despite this Act, which astute political operator, but the real U.S.FOREIGN POLICY professionals were at ‘The Palace’, ______--- -——--<1@-mi-_----—- brought a swift shift, and the US started also banned training and aid to foreign suggesting perhaps a massive attention to develop ‘counter-insurgency’ police forces, the government, the distracting operation. SUPPLYING REPRESSION, by Michael capabilities in ‘friendly’ countries. By military and the State Department have I961 when President Kennedy took Is this to replace the scientific study of T. Klare. The Field Foundation, I00 East continued to act within the Nixon office, ‘external defence was relegated to the state with the mere repetition of 85th Street, New York, N.Y. 10028. USA. doctrine of ‘Vietnamisation’ (self-defence conspiracy theory? As written up by the 56pp. December 197 7. I1 decidedly Secondary position’. It was based on US aid and assistance). authors certainly. Many people have This pamphlet by Michael Klare is PIIICISSIY this Shift which II1'5IlI9d IO The body of the pamphlet details the denied what they told Courtiour and concerned with thesupply o|' arms and "ISSSIV9 Us aid I30 IIIIIIISYY and principal programs by which the USA Page 88/State Research Bulletin No 5/April—May 1978 State Research Bulletin N0 5/April—May 1978/Page 89 l I has, and is still, giving aid, training and London, 1977. 480pp Paper £1.25. technology to military, paramilitary, and The Wages of War: the life of a modern IDENTITY CARDS — In war and peace police forces in ‘friendly’ Third World mercenary, by John Banks. Leo Cooper, _ ‘T7’ "'7' T _ '; _,_ _ ' * ' ' * ’ * ’ vwj _ ' 7'7 '7' e ' * ~— — A‘ countries. Much of this ‘assistance’, like London, 1978. 112pp. Cloth £4.95. riot equipment, computer intelligence with fingerprints, he isn’t simply talking The Governance of Britain, by Harold systems, surveillance devices, and training to himself. The real significance of Wilson. Sphere Books, London, 1977. identity cards is quite different from the in ‘interrogation’, not only maintains 268pp. Paper £1.50. overtly repressive regimes in power but reasons so often put forward favouring also contributes directly to the denial Crime in England 1550-1800, edited by them, arguments of convenience. On the of basic human rights (like torture, J.S. Cockburn. Methuen, London, 1977. Although there is no immediate contrary, they would make Britain a degrading treatment, assassination, and 364pp. Cloth £10.50. proposal to introduce identity cards in police state in the true meaning of the prolonged detention without trial). Imperial Brain Trust: the Council on the UK in the immediate future, there are term by giving the police arbitrary powers Despite President Carter’s alleged Foreign Relations and United States three strong reasons for looking at the over all citizens or some sections of the commitment to the maintenance of Foreign Policy, by Laurence H. Shoup possibility of their appearance before so community. They would be the ‘human rights’, and the 1974 Foreign and William Minter. Monthly Review very long. First, information gathering on culmination of the modernisation of state Assistance Act, the over-riding principle Press, New York, 1977. 334pp. Cloth individuals, their jobs, their property, control in a highly dangerous way. of US policy remains exactly the same £9.85. their past, their views, is on the increase First, it is important and worthwhile generally and a national identity card to look at the last time Britain had ID as it has been throughout the postwar The Future Global Challenge: a predictive period -— only the form of the policy system would tie it all together. Second, cards — from the outbreak of the Second study of World Security, 1977-1990, by as fully-fledged members of the EEC we World War until the early fifties. has changed. This over-riding principle is Neville Brown. Royal United Services that of ‘national security’, of maintaining are now partners with countries which Institute for Defence Studies, London, possess national ID systems and which 1939 NationalRegistration Act anti-communist govemments regardless of 1977. 402pp. Cloth £9.95. their undemocratic of dictatorial are about to introduce a common EEC The Slump: society and politics during the passport for external use —-- the It is easily forgotten that Britain had characters. It justified continuing aid to Depression, by John Stevenson and Chris the ruling junta in Greece because of its predecessor of an EEC identity card for an identity card system between 1939 Cook. Jonathan Cape, London, 1978. use inside the EEC? And third, we are one and 1952. The compulsory issue of strategic importance to NATO, and 348pp. Cloth £8.95. President Carter’s continuing crisis away from ID cards; next time identity cards was part of the terms of commitment to give aid to South Korea The British Right, by Neill Nugcnt and there is a major bombing campaign, the the National Registration Act 1939, a Roger King. Saxon House, Farnborough, political demands for national ID cards piece of wartime emergency legislation and the Philippines on the grounds of safeguarding ‘national security’ interests. 1977. 323pp. Cloth £7.50. will grow even louder than they were in that received the Royal Assent on 5 September 1939. The Act set up a While such a view prevails, Klare The National Front Investigated. Labour 1974-~5 when, by all accounts, Harold Wilson had accepted the move if there National Register, containing details of all concludes, there will be no fundamental Research Department, London, 197 8. was a quick repetition of the Birmingham citizens. National Identity Cards were change in US policy, and the means for 28pp. Pamphlet 25p. disaster. then issued to all civilians on it. internal repression ‘will continue to flow The Politics of the Judiciary, by J.A.G. The proposals for internal controls on The Register comprised ‘all persons in to governments which engage in “a Griffith. Fontana, London, 1977. 224pp. immigrants contained in the latest report the United Kingdom at the appointed consistent pattern of gross violations of Paper £1.25. from the Select Committee on Race time’ and ‘all persons entering or born in internationally-recognised human rights” The CIA at Work, by Lauran Paine. Relations and Immigration may well the United Kingdom after that time’. A (1974 Act) so long as they align with the Robert Hale, London, 1977. 192pp. mean the introduction of identity cards Schedule to the Act listed ‘matters with United States in the East-West power Cloth £4.95. and random police checks for the black respect to which particulars are to be struggle’. community. Mr. Alex Lyons, former entered in Register’. These were: This pamphlet is a telling indictment Politics and Ideology in Marxist Theory: capitalism, fascism and populism, by Labour Minister at the Home Office, said ‘1. Names, 2. Sex, 3. Age, 4. Occupation, of US foreign and military policy and is Ernesto Laclau. New Left Books, London, of the proposals: ‘If we were to go over profession, trade or employment, to be highly recommended. TB. 1977. 240pp. Cloth £6.00. to the Continental system of internal 5. Residence, 6. Condition as to marriage, Terrorism and the Liberal State, by Paul checks on migrants it woul affect our 7. Membership of Naval, Military or Air BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED Wilkinson. MacMillan. London, 1977. whole way of life. The Continental Force Reserves or Auxiliary Forces or of 258pp. Cloth £7.95. system depends upon identity cards, Civil Defence Services or Reserves.’ This listing does not preclude subsequent arbitrary police checks and hotel The Register was the responsibility of publication of reviews. A New World Role for the Medium Power: registrations as well as reporting to the the Registrar-General, who was the British Opportunity, by James Bellini police.’ So when someone like James answerable to the Minister of Health (in The Codebreakers: the use of cryptology and Geoffrey Pattie. Royal United Services Anderton, Greater Manchester’s England and Wales) and to the Secretaries by the intelligence agencies in the 2nd Institute for Defence Studies, London, politically active Chief Constable, of State for Scotland and Northern world war, by David Khan. Sphere Books, 1977. 122pp. Paper £4.95. suggests a national identity card complete Ireland. The compilation of the Register

Page 90/S tate Research Bulletin No 5/April—May 1978 State Research Bulletin No 5/April—May 1 978/Page 91 rl I data was entrusted to enumerators, September 1939. The first was the major identification of undesirables —' was put for compiling a register, but here you similar to Census enumerators, dislocation of the population caused by forward in 1939. have the possibility of people being responsible for collecting the data by area mobilisation and mass evacuation and stopped and asked whether they have ‘blocks’. Section 5 of the Act compelled also the wartime need for complete Lessons of the 1939 Act or have not lost their cards. You may the production of documentary evidence, manpower control and planning in order challenge a dozen people and you find when required, to prove the accuracy of to maximise the efficiency of the war The 1939 Act provides three one who has committed an offence. It the individual’s replies to the seven economy. It may or may not have been important lessons that could be relevant will not help a scrap to win the war, questions. necessary - that is a matter of dispute-M if another identity card system is but there is the possibility of In return for the seven answers, all but it was seen as emergency, temporary introduced. First, when Parliament is penalising somebody who is perfectly civilians were issued with identity cards, legislation to cope with special confronted with an emergency that may innocent because we have passed a law which could contain some or all of the circumstances. justify the introduction of identity cards, for another purpose entirely.’ information supplied to the enumerator. The second main reason why the Act it virtually abandons its role as the There were a few MPs who were able Members of the armed forces and was passed was the likelihood of rationing protector of the citizen against the to obtain some minor but important merchant sailors were exempted. It was felt that the imminence of executive and as the scrutineer of changes in the Bill as it shot through the Section 6, sub-section 4, of the Act rationing (introduced from January 1940 legislation. And, by a Catch-22, it does House, but the overwhelming majority stated: ‘A constable in uniform, or any onwards) entailed the need for an up-to- this at precisely the time when it were perfectly content to give these person authorised for the purpose under date system of standardised registration, introduces sweeping changes, often powers to the police -— as they were the said regulations, may require a person so that rationing could be introduced as vitally altering the content of civil liberty, bound to if the identity card system was who under the regulations is for the time easily as possible. It is doubtful whether which most require its attention. to mean anything at all. being responsible for the custody of an this argument holds up — issuing ration In September 1939, vital freedoms of The third lesson of 1939 is that, identity card, to produce the card to him books themselves would surely have been the subject were ended, with hardly any although the system was introduced in an or, if the person so required fails to adequate -~ but in 1939 the argument was debate, in a matter of a few days. Habeas emergency and although it was supposed produce it when the requirement is made, accepted. Corpus was suspended, the Government to perish with the end of the war, it to produce it within such time, to such The third main reason was that the was given power to ban meetings that it didn’t. Laws like this, that the police and person and at such place as may be Government needed recent statistics felt might cause public disorder or government find useful, have a habit of prescribed’. about the population. As the last census ‘promote disaffection’, and it became an hanging around on the statute book. In Offences under the Act included giving had been held in 1931 and the next was offence to attempt to influence public fact, it remained in force for longer in false information, impersonation, forgery not due until 1941, there was little opinion ‘in a manner likely to be peacetime than wartime. As part of the of an identity card, and unauthorised accurate data on which to base vital prejudicial to the defence of the realm’. retum to peacetime normality, most disclosure of information. For these planning decisions. The National Register Whether or not such changes were wartime laws were repealed. But some, offences, maximum penalties on was in fact an instant census. Indeed, the necessary, desirable, effective or popular like the rationing system, stayed on and summary conviction were a £50 fine and/ National Registration Act bears a close can be a matter of debate. That Parliament were only gradually removed. Each year, or three months in prison, and on resemblance to the 1920 Census Act in completely failed to examine the Parliament passed an Emergency Laws conviction on indictment a £100 fine many respects. Introducing the new law legislation is not debatable. (Transitional Provisions) Act, continuing and/or two years in prison. It was also an to Parliament, Health Minister Walter The second notable lesson of the 1939 the effect of selected wartime laws, and it offence to fail to comply with any other Elliot explained that the whole process of Act» I5 that It gave SIIOIIIIOIISIY wide and was not until 22 May 1952 that identity requirement duly made under the Act, or registration would be carried through in general powers to the police and, indeed, cards were abolished. with any regulation made under it, and about three weeks and that it would form to ‘any Person e11th<>1‘iSed’- John Tinker the maximum penalty was a £5 fine or the basis for proper wartime planning. MP put the nub of the objection in the Peacetimeo Continuation one month in prison or both. The Act In short, none of the three major Second Reading debate: applied to the whole of the United reasons put forward for the 1939 Act ‘We do not want to be stopped in In 1947, W.S. Morrison MP made some Kingdom and was to remain in force could be put forward today as a reason the Street by any Pe1'$OI1 anywhere and important criticisms of the system when until a date which ‘His Majesty may be for introducing identity cards. There is no IIO be fO1'°ed IO P1'OduCe 3 CaI'd- If that it came up for renewal: Order in Council declare to be the date emergency on a remotely comparable kind of thing begins, we shall be afraid ‘Now that more than two years have on which the emergency that was the scale to that of war; there is no of people meeting us and asking for passed since the end of the war, we occasion of the passing of this Act came immediate prospect of wholescale our cards. One thing that we do ought seriously to consider whether to an end’. rationing; and then, is no Shortage of respect in this country is our freedom the time is not overdue to get rid of detailed census and survey data. Equally from being challenged on every what was an innovation introduced in The Wartime Rationale it is Worth noting that nono of tho occasion to produce something to, order to meet a temporary set of reasons nowadays ndvanood in favour of prove that we are certain persons. conditions. There is no doubt that Three main reasons were put forward tno introdnonon of ioonnty oords _. Anotlier MP, Mr. Tomlinson, said: _ they are troublesome documents to by the government for passing the law in notably tno noon for oonnol and It may be that there is a necessity some people. They frequently get lost,

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under the National Registration Act are one must give to the police to stop involving the owner in difficulties of on the true reason for the retention of available for the years 1939*-4 8, since people and ask for identity cards. That one kind or another simply because he identity cards. It was the wider web of they are hidden under ‘other is the infringement of liberty that is has not got a certain piece of paper. identity checks -- their use in all Post misdemeanours’. However, in 1949, 521 involved, but it is an infringement Law-abiding citizens who live in one Office transactions, for instance, and people were convicted of offences against which at present I an inclined to community are particularly prone to their use by the police — which the Act; the Criminal Statistics for 1949 accept. I believe that, if present lose them because they are known by constituted the true reason for keeping give no further details. More detailed circumstances continue, most people all their neighbours and do not carry them for so long. C.H. Rolph, himself an figures exist for subsequent years, in the country would be prepared to the cards. The dishonest man — the ex-policeman, writes: however. In 1950, 470 (409 men, 61 accept that infringement of liberty.’ spiv, as he has been called - is ‘The police, who had by now got used women) were charged, 436 were On past experience, it is reasonable to generally possessed, I am told, of five to the exhilarating new belief that convicted, 19 cases were otherwise assume that it will take an ‘emergency’ or six different identity cards which he they could get anyone’s name and disposed of, and 15 were dismissed. In such as a bombing campaign to persuade produces at his pleasure to meet the address for the asking, went on calling 1951, 273 (232 men, 41 women) were changing exigencies of his adventurous parliament that identity cards are for their production with increasing charged, 235 were convicted, 16 other- necessary. But once that emergency career. So in the detection and frequency. If you picked up a fountain wise disposed of, and 22 dismissed. In occurs it is clear that an identity card prevention of crime no case can be pen in the street and handed it to a 1952, the year the system lapsed, 8 made out for the identity card.’ system is likely to receive immediate all- constable, he would ask to see your people only were charged, of whom 3 party support, as shown above. And later in the debate, Morrison went identity card in order that he might were convicted. For by this time Willcock The technical capability to produce on: record your name as that of an honest v Muckle had taken the carpet from the necessary 55-60 million identity ‘The argument advanced on second citizen. You seldom carried it; and this under the police’s feet and the government cards already exists, and if they are reading -- I conceive it to be the main meant that he had to give you a little decided to allow the system to lapse. brought in, the likely recipient of the argument for the retention of these pencilled slip requiring you to produce contract to produce them is Rapid Data troublesome documents — was that as it at a police station within two days.’ 1974: call for ID cards International of Havant, Hants. This is long as rationing persists they are the firm that makes Access Cards, necessary. I do not believe it. We were 1952: system lapses In recent times, the calls for a new Barclaycards and a number of similar told in the House the other day that system of identity cards have come not bank cards. They already produce 2% there are 20,000 deserters still at large. It is unlikely that the identity card only from isolated but influential million cards a month. RDI have the How have these 20,000 persons system would have been abandoned had individual kite-flyers like Dr. Richard technology to produce the kind of contrived to equip themselves with it not been for the test case of Willcock v Clutterbuck, a counter-insurgency expert, identity card that would most likely be food and clothing? Ex hypothesi they Muckle (1951,49 LGR 584). In this case or James Anderton, but also in November demanded; a plastic card directly cannot be possessed of valid honest a driver was stopped in connection with a 1974, after the Birmingham pub bombing embossed with the bearer’s photograph identity cards, but that has not motoring offence and asked to produce atrocities, there was a significant if short- and fingerprint, thus making forgery prevented them from sustaining his card. On his refusal to do so, either lived snowballing of support for such a more difficult. In the now-defunct paper, themselves with food and clothing then or subsequently, he was charged plan. MPs from all three major parties Computer Digest (18 July 1975), RDI themselves with raiment without these with an offence under Section 6(4). When joined in. They included former Foreign were quoted as welcoming the possibility documents. Therefore, as a deterrent the case reached appeal in the King’s Secretary Michael Stewart, Tribunite MP of the 60 million card contract (not to the evasion of the rationing Bench Division, Lord Chief Justice John Lee, the then Liberal Party home surprisingly) and saying there will be arrangements the ease is proved that Goddard delivered a ferocious attack affairs spokesman Alan Beith and a large ‘definite business eventually’. they are of little or, at the best, of upon police practice: number of Conservatives including Sir speculative value.’ ‘Because the police have powers, it George Sinclair, William Rees-Davies, Computerising the Population Although this attack did not succeed does not follow that they ought to John Stokes and Michael Mates. A in getting the system abolished it did exercise them on all occasions as a notable Labour advocate was George If some such system is brought in, draw a denunciation of identity cards matter of routine. From what we have Cunningham MP: it is probable that a new identity card from the Government’s spokesman, been told it is obvious that the police ‘ . . . I support the call for serious law would look similar to its 1939 Aneurin Bevan: ‘I believe that the now, as a matter of routine, demand consideration to be given to the aspect predecessor, but the big difference requirement of an internal passport is the production of a National of identity cards with photographs between the two would lie in the use that more objectionable than an external Registration Card whenever they stop and fingerprints . . . It will take a long could and would be made of the data. passport, and that citizens ought to be or interrogate a motorist for whatever time to make that change and there There are already in existence a allowed to move about freely without cause . . . This Act was passed for are strong objections. It is not the number of extensive, computerised data running the risk of being accosted by a security purposes: it was never issuing of identity cards or the fact banks containing information on large policeman or anyone else, and asked to intended for the purposes for which it that one has to carry an identity card numbers -— in some cases the majority — produce proof of identity’. is now being used.’ that is the problem. It is the powers of the population. Such systems include Morrison had been right to cast doubt No separate statistics of offences Slate Research Bulletin No 5/April—May 1978/Page 95 Page 94/State Research Bulletin N0 5/April——May 1978 I EL . - J__