Printed by Tridant Press, Edenbridge. Published by Idolrare Ltd, PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU. Copyright © 1994 ON OCTOBER 9 police gave a brilliant demonstration of what we can expect when the Criminal Justice Bill becomes law. The "mob rule" which press hysteria railed against was entirely caused by the actions of the police.
Nothing could have been more provocative on a demonstration against the Criminal Justice Bill than to try to prevent a sound system coming into Park Lane: then trying to prevent it getting into Hyde Park; and then trying to clear the Park with riot police and horses.
As could have been predicted, the thousands of youth in the park resisted this provocation.
Twice police horses were driven out of the Park under a hail of missiles, then the riot police were driven out of the Park as well.
Kamikaze police charges to attempt to re-enter the park through a small gateway were also driven back.
True to form, many of the injuries to demonstrators occurred when they were eventually forced out of the park, split into small groups and forced down Oxford Street. No wonder the windows of some rich people's shops got trashed.
The demo organisers are wrong however to call for a public enquiry; public enquiries are whitewash affairs conducted by the state to exonerate itself.
There should be a labour movement enquiry into both the police riot and the draconian restriction of democratic rights represented by the Bill.