Show the reality of police powers

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The GLC left's collapse in the final vote on the budget including the LT fares rise has provoked a big debate in the London Labour Left, reflectec in the columns of Socialist Organiser. Tony Gard takes up the discussion, arguing that the Left has been hamstrung by failure to key into the fight for trade union democracy and trade union action argues that Labour must go for, not the illusion of local "socialism on the rates', , but a working class struggle against capitalism which should be added common ownership of the means of production, exit from the EEC, withdrawal from NATO, abolition of nuclear weapons, democratic and civil control of the armed forces and police, and abolition of the House, of Lords and the Monarchy.

We must refuse to compromise with the tories and instead, put the socialist alternative" before the working class and pursue our common struggle against the ruling class. If we do not, the danger will be made greater that a larger number of the workers will seek a right wing and racist solution to the endemic crisis of international capitalism.

NIGEL KNOWLES PPC, Hastings PCC, Noel Park Ward Wood Green CLP JAMES Anderton's attack on the weak powers of the. (in part) democratically elected police committees is a forerunner of how the Tories intend to fight elections.

Law and order will make central. Whitelaw is already preparing new 'sus' laws. Last summer saw tens of thousands of working class youth from the poorest inner cities areas of England in a series of violent and lengthy clashes with the police. None of the problems facing these youth - unemployment, racism, bad hous ing, lack of leisure facilities - have been solved.

The increased use of vans instead of panda cars, the stockpiling of riot weapons, show how the law-and-order Tories and their allies, the Chief Constables, intend to tackle the problem of unemployment.

What policies should the labour movement fight for?

We must first of all destroy the myth of community policing, and show the reality of the militarisation and the computerisation of police power.

We must also support trade union and community based organisations which defend their areas against racialist and fascist attacks.

In Leeds,, before the summer disturbances, there were a number of racialist attacks in Chapeltown. Nobody has been arrested for them. This contrasts with nearly a hundred youth arrested in Chapeltown during the disturbances themselves.

The final demand must be that the existing police committees should dismiss Chief Constables who attack the working class, and challenge directly the power of the Home Office. Anderton must be the first Chief Constable to go.