The return of the ‘sus’ laws?

This is an article from Socialist Worker this week, which outlines what lies ahead for policing from the Con-Dem coalition government.

New home secretary Theresa May promised to ramp up police powers in her speech to the Police Federation annual conference in Bournemouth.

May wants to give police powers that echo those of the hated and racist “sus” laws.

They would have the ability to charge people with “minor” offences without the involvement of the Crown Prosecution Service.

May also outlined plans to “untangle the knot” of police health and safety regulations.

At first glance this seems like a minor point—but remember Jean Charles de Menezes.

It was the breach of health and safety regulations that brought the police before the court.

For all the talk of restoring civil liberties, the Con-Dem coalition have made it clear that any such changes will be secondary to the huge cuts they plan to make to public services.

We have to continue to push for reforms, and at the same time stand firm against any attempts to reintroduce 'sus', which was used so draconianly - mainly against black people - during the 1970s/1980s.

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