20p RED 9/3 RAG Red Rag, Box 79, 17, Chatham St Reading Berks:- Next Coordinator via Box 79 Copy deadline Sat 19 Apr Typed copy to 8cm width & single spaced Published by the Red Rag Collective, printed by Acorn Bookshop. Advertising Rates: £3 for 10 by 6cm £6 for 10 by 12cm 'Small ads' are still free. 4 ads in consecutive issues are £2:50 / £5 each. For more details: Simon on Reading 666354. Red Rag Outlets * Acorn Bookshop * Harvest Wholefoods (Traders) * UB Cycles (London Street) * Moon (Harris Arcade) * Hargun Cash & Carry (Cholmeley Road) * Women's Centre * Reading Univ. SU (Ken's Shop) * Bulmershe S.U. * Pop Records (Yield Hall Place) * Cholmeley Rd newsagent. - - - HOW MANY POLICEMEN DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB? If it takes 150 officers, 20 vehicles and nine months of planning and undercover work to track down the paltry amount of soft drugs seized in the raid on Mandela Court, is hardly surprising that Supt Eyles (in charge of 'Operation Claret(!?)' is always telling the press, the government and anyone who will listen, how understaffed the Thames Valley force is. The police force would like to, or would like us to believe that riots and civil disturbances are always provoked by some hardened criminal element - drug dealers for instance. On the subject of provocation, it does seem incredible that the police response to what they see as a delicate situation, is the complete overkill shown at Orts Road. A friend who was by coincidence handing in his driving documents at the police station that night was astonished to see the building surrounded by policemen, clearly petrified in case 'something' happened. It would be interesting to know if the police themselves considered the operation a success and if so, why? Do they really believe the raid will have any long-term benefits or diminish the drugs market in Reading. As one local person said, "...at the moment cannabis is virtually impossible to get hold of", but he added that "almost every other drug is available". From this it would seem that the raid did not achieve much success in seizing hard drugs. If the police consider this raid a success then they must take some responsibility for encouraging people to take dangerous drugs, and indirectly supporting those who deal in and make huge profits from the sale of addictive drugs. - - - STOP THE ART ATTACK A national campaign against the government cuts in arts education is taking shape. It is high time that people involved in art education got together to protect their own interests and to try and put a stop to the decline in government support for the arts in general. The cuts in art education include Fine Art, Humanities subjects and languages. Design courses are having fewer problems, due to their money making potential. It seems that the government want to block any kind of education which encourages questioning, analytical thinking and curiosity. The National Advisory Board is a government body, set up a couple of years ago to look into University education and make recommendations for ways of spending less money. The Art and Design board made its recommendations, which were largely ignored by the last report. Another report is due to be made public at the end of May. The Stop the Art Attack campaign was started at Loughborough Art College last year. The government had decided to close the college altogether. Loughborough Student's Union started petitioning and getting support from other local Trade Unions and the local community, through open days and other events. Their success probably saw to the government reallocating cuts to other art colleges, but they decided to host a national, student conference on Saturday 28th March. The conference was supported by the NUS and individual students' unions. Over 50 student representatives from all over Britain came, to discuss their own problems and to try and organise for a national plan of action. Only two representatives came from London colleges. Most reps were sabbatical officers from art colleges, who were able to put a lot of time into the project and to get together a working committee. Loose plans for regional conferences, a day of action in October before some relevant government action and a letter writing campaign around the time of the N.A.B. report, will be made official soon hopefully. Reading University Fine Art Department sent three representatives. We told the conference how difficult it was for 80 odd students in a conservative University of 6,000 students, ruled over by an autocratic anti-cultural Vice-Chancellor, to have much power. We said that we would be asking for the support of B.A.G. and. other concerned parties. As soon as I have copies of the conference minutes, I will publish a precis in the Rag. If you wish to get involved or would like more information, please contact: Ian Johnson, Fine Art Dept, Reading University, London Rd, Reading. - - - After Dark at the Paradise Club Midnight Promotions Presents SECOND EMOTION and The After Dark All Stars Monday 13th April Admission £2:50 on Door 8 30-Late. £2:00 Before 10.00 112 London St. Reading - - - After Dark at the Paradise Club Midnight Promotions Presents direct from London TAXI PATA PATA (featuring Nhumba Foguis) Soukous / Socal / Afro-salsa jazz and The After Dark All Stars Monday 20th April Tickets available from Acorn & Pop Records: Admission £3:50 on Door 8 30-Late. £3:00 Before 10.00 112 London St. Reading - - - THEATRE GUIDE South Hill Park, Wilde Theatre * Steven Joseph Theatre in the Round Company present 'Time and Time again' by Alan Ayckbourn. 6-11 April 7.30pm £6/£2:25. * World premiere!! The Wilde Community Theatre Company present 'The Girls of Slender Means' by Colin Davis, music by Alan Lisk. 16-18 April 7.30pm £5/£2 * La Bouche Dance Company (this lot are supposed to be absolutely incredible) 'Amusing Ourselves to Death' 29 April only 7.30 pm £4/£2:50. A combination of rock music, contemporary dance and performance art, phew! *The Natural Theatre Company of Bath present 'Her Majesty's Pleasure' 30 April - 2 May at 7.30pm. Tickets £5/£2 (Music Hall entertainment celebrating Queen Vic's 150th Anniversary (nah thanks I'll just see it on East-Enders - typist). Wokingham Theatre Oxford Playhouse Company present: 'The Rivals' by Sheridan. 24 April-2 May. Starts at 7.45. Tickets £3. Hexagon The Really Useful Company presents 'Daisy Pulls it off'. 13-18 April. Tickets £6:50/£4. "An absolute hoot" say the Sunday Times (and who am I to argue) - - - THEATRE REVIEW Extemporary Dance at the Wilde Theatre One of the best things about extemporary dance is that they dance to live music. This highly enhances the atmosphere brought to the stage. The 'American Suite' as the evening was called, was a real feat of choreography. In a maze of dance moves involving all eight dancers running acrcos the stage like Brownian motion not once did anyone fall over in the "one-person-falls-over-backwards-two-others-catch-them- before-they-hit-the-ground" moves. The Group aims to bring theatre into the dance, but does not allow much expression from the dancers. They are highly disciplined athletes, who can carry out their manoeuvres in perfect time. Perhaps the dancers themselves should concentrate more on their theatrical skills, but they probably don't have much say in the matter here. - - - LIVE AND DIRECT Hot on the trail of Reading's elusive live music scene... with Red Rag "Police and thieves in the streets Frighten the nation With their guns and ammunition..." Forward into live and direct selections with Junior Murvin..... Wed 8: * Cartoons - Killing The Rose, 8pm, free. Thurs 9: * Hex - Clare Deniz (cello) & Paul Turner (piano), free, 1.10pm * Cap & Gown - The Pressgang Club, usually £1 before 9.30pm. Fri 10: * Paradise Club - Chiefs Of Relief boast an ex Sex Pistol in their numbers, and White Speed, whose aacho rock and roll posturing annoyed me when I saw them, but there you go... * Crap & Groan - Blank Generation £2. Sat 11: * Hex - Gypsy Jazz,12.15pm and free. * Basingstoke Caribbean Assoc, Priestley Rd: Joint Promotions present The Angelic upstarts, (0I0I0I0I), White Speed, who reputedly sound better in Basingstoke (..to someone in Reading?..) and Condemned 84. Contestant No. 1 on Blob Sez Opportunity Knocks this evening ladies and gentlemen... * Cap & Gown - The Mudcats do the garage swamp thang, £2, best get there by 10. Sun 12: * Repeated birthday greetings to a brace of Scanlons... * Otherwise, unless you fancy 210's Off The Wall at 7 with local bands tapes etc, a day to stay in bed. Mon 13: * After Dark at the Paradise Club. From the debris of the potted palms, the After Dark club returns, with once again the sharpest of Reading's musos, the After Dark All Stars. Headlining are Second Emotion, who hail from Henley I believe. Tickets are available on the door £2:50 or £2 if you get up (whoops, Freudian slip), get in before 10pm. Tues 14: * Majestic - The Pink Fairies/Magic Mushroom Band gig beams down tonite (not tommoorrow as previously predicted). Tickets for the 15th are still valid. * You has Jazz at the Turks Head - Bring a Barbour jacket and brogues. * Cap & Gown - Turks Bottom folk Club. * Cartoons - Press To Ascend, 8pm, free. Dunno what they're like. Weds 15: * Cartoons - Juliets Eyes. Entrant No.2 in the Red Rag Special of Bob Sez Hopportunity Nerks... Thurs 16: * Hex - Noddy and the Magic Bell, 1pm & 3pm. The first of this week's entries to break out of the worn-out "Guitar, bass, drums & vocals" cliche. £1:50 - See you there! * Cap'n'Gown - the pressgang Club. Fri 17: * Paradise closed because it's Good (Good?) Friday and they can't get a licence. Which hasn't stopped... * Cap & Gown - who seem to have a special relationship with god, and who offer us The Barbel Brothers (motowny?) £2 anyway. Sat 18: * Right, that's the correcting ribbon on the typewriter changed, so on we go... not really a lot to rave about so far! * Basingstoke Caribbean Assoc - another Joint Promotion, this time John Otway and quiet man of rock Attila The Stockbroker, who is Contestant No.3 on Red Reg Sez Opportunity etc etc... * Cap & Gown - The wonderfully named Walter Swinburn Story; £2 but worth it for the name alone. Get in by 10, ale suppers. * Copy deadline for the next Rag, 6pm, Acorn SUN 19: * Zzzzzzzzz *Hex - Showstoppers - Songs From The Shows. Hmm. Berstein to Lloyd-Webber, it says here. Mon 20: * Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. * Hex save us all from committing suicide from boredom by presenting Alan Price. Yawnerooonie Vooterooonie... * But wait, hang on, er, stop the presses! Taxi Pata Pata, Andy Kershaw faves and "possibly the finest African band around" provide a much needed dose of culture at the Paradise Club. Tickets are £3 from Acorn and Pop Records, admission is £3 before 10pm and £3:50 afterwards. Ably supported by The After Dark All Stars this sounds like one of the liveliest nites in Reading for some time. See you there! Tues 21: Thankfully the vomit-inducing Howard Keel has been cancelled by thee Hexagon. Permanently??? * Turks Bottom Folk at the Cap & Gown, and sloane jazz with a soupson of NF boneheads and psychobillies (remember them?) at the Turks Head. * Cartoons - Coffee Club. I prefer plain ones actually, but I like all chocolate. (Hint - please send me an Easter Eggy!) * Paradise - Conspiracy benefit for the Festival Branch of the Samaritans, with Milisurp RDF (Hungerford posse roots and creation dub). Home And Abroad (3 piece pop) and The Jeremiahs (excellent 4 piece band from Tadley, moody and beautiful). * Hex - a shame that it clashes with the Conspiracy do, but Misty In Roots are to play at the Hex tonight, £5 and get there very early for one of the best reggae groups in the world... sweet sounds of Revelation. Weds 22: * Cartoons - Kiss The Idol... the sounds of young Reading. * Nono's, Duke St - live music in a collar-free zone. * Red Rag out.! Thurs 23: Pressgang Club at The Cap & Gown. Fri 24: * Cap & Gown Giz Your Two Quid Promotions present Beyond The River - Who are they? Get there by 10pm, shell out £2 and see... * Paradise Club - Jim Jiminee. Home and Abroad (3 piece pop) and Next Years Big Thing, whom I like so they become Contestant 4 in Reg Thinks Opportunity May be Outside And Wanting To Come In For A Cup Of Tea. Lithe and direct too... and to vote in the Ed Reg Sez Opportunity Knocks, just dial the phone number at the bottom of the page... happy voting!!! Sat 25: * Cor Blimey Where's the vicar / oh he's in the bar again... your intrepid correspondent is off to a wedding. Best wishes and congratulations to Bill and Geraidine. Penguins Are Go!! * Meanwhile back at the ranch, Jim Jiminee do a freebie at The Hex, 12.15. Up and Coming Artistes, so go see them at the Paradise and then here... .* Babylonstoke - Caribbean Assoc, Priestly Rd it's Harmonic 228 (ex Girlschcol ie Evvy Mettul) and a support band too. * Cap & Gown - Strangers. Lots of 'em. All getting pissed, not talking to anyone and gawping at a band. Just Another Saturday Night... * Don't forget arch Gemini Bob Monkhouse on the box, will you? Sun 26: * Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Zzzzzzzzzzzz. Zzzzzzzzzz... Mon 27: * After Dark at the Paradise: Some Something should be happening, rumour has it that it be the Backbeat Band. Ho hum, good stuff. Tues 28: * Cartoons - Robbed In Rome. 8pm and free. Weds 29: * Cartoons - Cross Town Traffic - jazz funk. 8pm and free. As they are the first band playing at Cartoons whom I can put a label to, they become Entrant 5 in Reg Sez...zzzz * Ninos - live bands, 8pm and free. No dress restrictions. Thurs 30: * Pressgang Club at the Cap & Gown. Fri 1 May: *Zzzzcochnhnmncoogggggggg......Wheeeeee, it's the start of the month of May for all you space cadets and Imperial Intergalactic Drongos with Ozric Tentacules, Cosmic Cupboard (psychedelic settee? mind expanding axminster?? I give up.), and Psy (Ozrics 2). A whacky evening indeed, and I can think of no better place for them than on Om Sez Opportunity Knocks, as Space Sprout entry 6. Venue for this, er, event, is the Paradise Listen for the characteristic bonding calls of Arfermix... Arfermix... and you won't go wrong. I think I'll leave the country. * Polish Club, London Rd, entry by Eldon Terr. The Larkins (R'n'R) and Sonny Black's Blues Band. £2, get there for 9.30 at the latest. * Cap & Gown - Airdance, £2. Sat 2 May: * Madday / Mayday 87 shindig at the Centre for the Unemployed, with veggie dining, disco, an african band and an ANC speaker reputed to be on the bill. Coming Soon... Well, the connoisseurs of Music for space veggies are in for a real party in May, with Ring at the Paradise on the 6th May (a Conspiracy do), the Ozric Tentacules, Webcore and Another Green World (who are very pleasant ambient stuff, unlike the other 2), amount to what is almost a repeat of the Conspiracy blowout in February , only this time it is the poor old Caribbean Assoc in Basingstoke that gets it rather than Reading Centre for the Unemployed... and on 13 May, the Conspiracy do it again with Webcore, Time Flies, and Tim' band from Glastonbury, all at the Paradise. And will the reformed Here And Now play in Reading in May? Remember where you read it first... Ah well, there's always The Complaints at the Paradise on 8 May, and the Mudcats & Surgery Sound System at the University on May 9th (townies get tickets in advance I suppose, because the Vice Chancellor thinks we cause trubble, even though a certain drummer is being done at the moment for the affray in question, y'rhonour )... and The Jack Rubies and The Gathering play at the Paradise on 15th May... and late news in: the University has shocked the world by its inspirational choice of Gary Glitter (Yeah) for its big gig on 24th June. - - - The Conspiracy Presents... MILITARY SURPLUS RDF Home & Abroad The Jeremiahs Tuesday 21st April £3.00. (£2.00 unwaged) Tuesday 21st April £3:00 (£2:00 unwaged) 9.00 - late. After Dark at The Paradise Club, 112 London Street, Reading - - - GRAPHIC ARTIST Black and white line drawings, illustrations, cartoons and caricatures of your choice, for your business, organisation or home. Commissions to order: any subject, any size, any quantity. Phone John Liepins 50481. - - - EVENTS Thurs 9 April: * Asian Women's Groups Advice and information at the Women's Centre, 6, Silver Street 2pm every Thursday. * Lesbian Support Group are holding their first meeting at the Womens' Centre. 7.30pm. * Meeting to organise a series of Media Workshops early in May. Phone Ian on 661907 for details. Sat 11 April: * March against USAF Upper Heyford: to protest against the airbase that supplied the hardware to bomb Libya. Long march starts 9 am at Upper Heyford goes to Cutteslowe Park, Oxford. Short march starts 2pm Cutteslowe Park for rally (with speakers and bands!) at Oxpen fields, Oxford City Centre. * Reading Urban Wildlife Group want helpers for pond digging at Devil's Dip Circuit Lane. Details: contact Trish on Reading 68341. Mon 13 April * Vocal Workshop. Come and descale your vocal chords! 7pm Abbey Rooms. All welcome. Tues 14 April: * Vigil at Upper Heyford on the anniversary of Libya at the peace camp, Partway Camp Road. * Greenham Support Group now meets at the Womens' Centre 8pm fortnightly - all women very welcome. * Women's welfare rights advice, also at the new Women's Centre! 1-3pm every Tue. Also Women's Centre Collective meeting at 6.30 guess where! * Green Party Public Meeting: "A Green approach to health policy". St Mary's Centre, The Butts, 8pm. * PnD Housing Co-op meeting. Find out what it's all about. Phone 666354. * BANC action meeting. Preparing for the national demo on the 25. Mass leafletting and all down the Butler afterwards Sounds alright by me! Friend's Meeting House 8pm Wed 15 April: * Direct Action at Upper Heyford "Stop The Flying". Vigil from 6pm on the 14 until 12 noon (15th). * Conserve Reading On Wednesdays (CROW) want helpers to work on footpaths near Binfield: Tel Pete 54798. Sat 18 April: * Gathering of the 5000! A multi-purpose benefit gig with Conflict and Steve Ignorant from CRASS, (with videos and stalls from ALF, Hunt Saboteurs, Anti-apartheid, Rape Crisis Centre and others). At the Academy in Brixton. Tickets £2:50 (starts at 6pm). * Red Rag Copy Deadline!!! Some people seem to think that it's made of elastic or something! Mon 20 April: * Reading group will be out on Cruisewatch as they are every Monday. They need all the people they can get, especially those with transport. Phone Joe on Reading 663412 for details. Tues 21 April: * Youth CND Public Meeting at Friends' Meeting House 8pm. Videos (including Cruisewatch) and possibly a speaker. Details from Yuri on 661162. Wed 22 April: * Red Rag folding (This bit doesn't happen by magic either.) If you're the sort of person who tends to have hangovers on Wednesday afternooogons then this will be 100% just what yoooooou need. Dead therapeutic. 5pm in the top of Acorn. * BANC planning meeting. Friends Meeting House at 8pm. Fri 24 April: * Reading's Gay Collective meeting at 7.45pm. Producing the newsletter and planning events. RGC Box 150, Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham Street. * Another Vocal Workshop at 7pm, Abbey Rooms. Sat 25 April: * CND demonstration: Not just another footslog through London. Under the new powers given by the Public Order Act (only three weeks old) the police have the power to control the size and route of marches, this is their test case. What will happen? This one might be illegal. Assemble 11am at Victoria Embankment for Rally at 2pm in (surprise, surprise) Hyde Park. Tues 28 April: * Polytantric Stonehenge '87 meeting at 99, Torriano Avenue, NW5. Fri 1 May: *** Stop Press *** Pogo stick convoy leaves Hammersmith Flyover at 1pm for 2 month Stonehenge festival. Remember boycott Glastonbury money-grabbing diversion. Sat 2 May: * May Day Rally 12.30 Forbury Gardens with speakers from unions and CND. March: 1.15, through the town with bands and floats. Bring a banner. Festival 2pm R.C.U. East Street, stalls food, creche, films and music. Social: 7.30pm til late at the R.C.U. African night with speaker from ANC, supper, disco, cabaret, poetry and an African band. So it sez ere anyway. Admission: With supper £5/£3 No supper £2:50/£1 Ring 861305 or 667731 for details. Sat 9 & Sun 10 May * Don't forget: There's a weekend of workshops for anyone interested in putting together Community Publications * Writing news articles * Funding and Advertising * Pasteup and design * Printing and duplication * Distribution and publicity Should be free or dirt cheap. Phone Reading 666354 if you would like to find out more. That's all folks... Send your events to Red Rag, Box 79, Acorn Books, 17, Chatham Street. - - - READING'S GAY COLLECTIVE organises many social events, and publishes a monthly newsletter of news/reviews/what's on listings. If you would like to receive "Reading's Gay" by post free please fill in and return the coupon below. If you would like to give a few copies to your friends or to distribute at local lesbian and gay venues please specify the number you require. Please send .... copy/copies of "Reading's Gay" free of charge to the address given below.:- Name ..................................... Address ..................................... ........... (Postcode) .............. (This information will be treated in confidence) Reading's Gay Collective Box 150 Acorn Bookshop 17 Chatham St. RG1 7JF Tel: 584425 Reading's Gay - by & for Reading's lesbians & gay men - - - A GUIDE TO THE 1984 POLICE ACT Along with the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the hew Public Order Act, the Police and Criminal Evidence act (PACE) is one of this government's major initiatives in the field of 'law and order'. Although the bill was passed in Parliament more than two years ago, the final stage only came into force at the beginning of last year. The act is not aimed at terrorists, rapists, murderers or such, but at the 'ordinary citizen'. It is vital that people know their rights when dealing with the police force (having been arrested recently due to my ignorance of the PACE laws I am only too aware of this!). The Act is ambiguous, confusing and in some places contradictory. The Police Bill supposedly affords protection to citizens from the abuses of police powers; in reality it provides scope for a disturbing increase in those abuses. The supposed 'safeguards' that the law provides are based on Codes of Practice. Breach of these codes will not exclude the evidence obtained from being admissible in court and will not render an officer liable to criminal or civil prosecution. The police still investigate complaints themselves and the only way for a member of the public to enforce the codes is through the police internal complaints system. These codes are seminal and their place in law not yet certain. For practical purposes they are no more enforceable than the Highway Code. The main areas covered by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act are: * Arrestable offences * Powers of search * Road blocks * Use of force * Detention * Evidence Arrestable Offences: Under the Police Act an offence falls into one of three categories, arrestable, serious arrestable and others. An officer may arrest any person if he or she believes they have reasonable grounds for suspecting that person is about to commit, is committing or has committed an arrestable offence. The Act then goes on to confer powers of arrest for other offences, which were hitherto unavailable to the police. These include offences under the 1936 and 1986 Public Order Acts (abusive behaviour etc., soliciting, illegal entry (under Immigration Act), breach of bail, offences under the Criminal Law Act relating to entering and remaining on property, certain offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Finally, any offence may give rise to the power of arrest (even parking on double yellow lines or dropping litter), if the individual officer decides that the service of a summons, which is the alternative to arrest, is 'inappropriate' or not 'practicable'. This would be the case if for example either, the suspect's name is unknown or the officer has reasonable grounds for doubting it to be genuine (this applies equally to address), the officer believes that the arrest is necessary to prevent the suspect from injuring himself, others, causing loss or damage to property, obstructing the highway, or committing 'an offence against public decency'. In effect this enables the police to arrest anyone on the flimsiest justification. 'Reasonable grounds for...' is a recurrent theme in the Police Act, but nowhere is this adequately defined. Style of dress, race, walking late at night etc. are not 'reasonable grounds', however so rarely do the police become accountable for their actions that these are common reasons for suspicion. People of fixed abode are very vulnerable to arrest as are young people who are often arrested for 'failing to produce a convincing name and address'. The Police Act does not set out what it considers an 'offence against public decency' but leaves this up to the prejudice and moral standards of individual police officers. Those who do not want to conform to police standards of 'respectability' will suffer unwarranted persecution under the new law. Police are not only empowered to arrest a person for an offence he has committed, but simply on the basis of what they believe may happen in the future. Being arrested and subjected to questioning is a humiliating experience, often far more disturbing than the penalty exacted by the courts. All in all the Police and Criminal Evidence Act creates over sixty new arrestable offences. Arrest for Fingerprinting This sets a precedent that prior to PACE was completely unheard of in English law. There can be no justification for the introduction of this power other than for the administrative convenience of the police. Any person who has been convicted of a recordable offence, but who has not been fingerprinted by the police may be arrested if he or she fails to comply with a requirement to give fingerprints. The requirement to give fingerprints must be made within one month of conviction and seven days must be allowed for a person to comply 'voluntarily'. As Sir Kenneth Newman stated, "Crime control is just one aspect of social control". This law undeniably proves that point. Serious Arrestable Offences Under certain circumstances arrestable offences become what the Act calls 'serious arrestable offences'. Once this has been established it allows the police to call upon even greater powers, including setting up road blocks, searching the homes of innocent people and detaining suspects for even longer periods. When the Bill was first introduced an offence was considered serious if the officer exercising the greater powers considered it so. However, although the government conceded the absurdity of this definition, it is still the police who in most instances decide whether an offence is serious. Some offences are always serious eg treason, murder, rape, kidnapping, incest, causing explosions, firearms offences, and certain terrorism offences. However, in addition to these any arrestable offence becomes serious when it is intended or likely to lead to: * Serious harm to public order or the security of the state. * Interference with investigation or the administration of justice. * Death or serious injury * Substantial financial gain (what is substantial is left to the discretion of the officer concerned). * Serious financial loss. These criteria are very dependent on the subjective judgement of individual police officers. What for instance constitutes 'harm to the security of the state'? Not least this creates double standards. Finally minor infringements of the Official Secrets Act and criminal damage could confer the powers that a 'serious arrestable of fence" provides. Searches Stop and Search Possibly this section of the Act provides for the greatest abuse of Police powers. Most people who are stopped are innocent and are unhappy about the way the police handled the incident. Stop and search is justified in that it is effective in the prevention of crime. However, countless surveys have shown that there is little evidence for this. All that is required for these stops is 'reasonable suspicion' as in arrest, however it is even easier for police to get away with making unauthorised stops. Under the Police Act an officer may stop and search any person or vehicle for stolen or prohibited articles and may detain a person for search. Prohibited articles include: articles for use with burglary, theft, taking a vehicle or obtaining property by deception, or any article adapted or intended for these purposes. This last section allows police to construe an illegitimate use for a vast range of everyday items. Before you are searched you should be told * officers name, station and shown ID if plainclothes. * purpose of the search and the reason for making it. * you are entitled to a copy of the search record within 12 months (ask for this at the time). The same powers and rights apply equally to vehicles. A stop search may be carried out in any place to which the public have access, football grounds, workplaces and private property are all included. Anything more than coat, jacket and gloves must not be removed in public. There is a Code of Practice on how stops should be conducted, but there is no legal weight behind this. Suspicion must exist before a person is stopped; a search cannot be made to discover grounds for suspicion. Searches should be carried out by an officer of the same sex and should last no more than a minute. If the suspect does not readily comply 'Reasonable force' may be used. Search of Premises The section dealing with a police officer's power to enter and search private homes, community centres, trades union offices and other organisations premises is the most complex part of the Act. There is some small measure of protection afforded to professional people whilst the police are given far-reaching powers to enter and search the homes of ordinary citizens. A policeman's power to enter your home is not only given by a search warrant, for example: * Entry by consent of occupier (a code of practice suggests this should be in writing) * Entry for the purpose of arresting someone * Entry for recapturing an escaped prisoner * Entry in order to prevent injury or damage to property * Entry to prevent a breach of the peace * Entry under a search warrant issued by a judge or magistrate or under a statute * Entry to search any premises in which an arrested person is or was immediately before the arrest, not necessarily owned by him or her for evidence relating to the offences for which he or she was arrested. * Entry to search any premises occupied by an arrested person for evidence relating to the offences for which he or she was arrested or for a connected or similar offence. In the exercise of all these powers except the first the police may use force where necessary. For the first time ever, the law permits that the home of innocent and unsuspected persons may be searched. Search warrants can be issued by either a magistrate or less frequently by a judge. The homes of individuals, trades union offices, campaigning organisations etc. are all liable to be searched under an ordinary magistrates warrant. The government bowed to pressure from the powerful lobbies of doctors, lawyers and other groups who wanted some protection for confidential information such as doctors records. Therefore, the Act attempts to make it more difficult for the police to search for certain types of evidence. Two new categories of evidence are created: * Excluded material such as personal: records of a professional nature. * Special procedural material which consists of material 'created in the course of any profession or occupation held in confidence but which is not excluded material.' Excluded material is exempt from the new search provisions provided by the Act. 'Special procedural material' requires a judges warrant. This however, provides no protection whatsoever to most people. The conditions for issuing a magistrates warrant are easy to satisfy and magistrates have been constantly criticised for their tendency to 'rubber stamp' police applications for search warrants. Once a police officer is lawfully on the premises he can exert the power to seize property, when he or she believes that it has been obtained in consequence of an offence or is evidence relating to any offence, and that seizure is necessary to prevent concealment or destruction of that article. Not only do these new powers of seizure mean that police can conduct 'fishing trips' to gather information from private address books and diaries, they also undermine the protection given to confidential 'excluded material'. Strip Searches When a person arrives at the police station, the custody officer must make a record of everything they have in their possession and may seize anything they believe to be evidence or may be used to cause injury, damage property, interfere with evidence or assist an escape. The only requirement for a strip search to be conducted is for it to be believed necessary. This leaves the power wide open to the vindictiveness of individual officers. The sole protection is yet another Code of Practice. If a superintendent believes that a person has concealed either anything for causing injury or a Class A drug, the suspect may be subjected to an intensely humiliating search, by force if needed, of the body orifices. In the former, if not considered for a medically qualified person to conduct the search, it may be carried out by a police constable of the same sex. No evidence is needed that the search is necessary. Fingerprints, Photographs and Samples The taking of a suspect's photograph is not covered by the Act. Generally the police have no powers to photograph you and should not use force. However, if they do take your photo there's not much you can do but complain. Under the Act fingerprints may be taken without consent where a suspect has been charged. Previously a magistrates court order was needed. These, along with fingerprints and photos taken from a person who is later acquitted should be destroyed. In the case of fingerprints the person has a right under the act to witness their destruction along with any copies. Intimate body samples cannot be taken without the consent of the suspect, however, non-intimate body samples such as hair, nail samples etc. may be taken by force if necessary if the superintendent believes he or she was involved in a serious arrestable offence. Detention The powers of detention possessed by the Police under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Immigration Act are unaffected by PACE. The right to remain silent when questioned by the police is one of a suspect's fundamental rights. The Act's authorisation of prolonged detention of up to 96 hours for questioning until the suspect breaks down is in flagrant contradiction of this right to silence. In the case of an ordinary 'arrestable offence' a person may be detained for up to 24 hours before charge. If it is a 'serious' offence, this may be extended up to 36 hours on the authorisation of the Police alone. If a warrant issued by a magistrates court is obtained the detention can be prolonged up to 72 hours when another warrant is needed until the four day limit when the suspect must be either charged or released. The period of detention is calculated from arrival at the police station or 24 hours after arrest if this is earlier. On arrival at a police station the custody officer must decide whether there is enough evidence for the suspect to be charged. If there is not the suspect may be detained for obtaining such evidence. The psychological pressure on a person kept in police custody for the period that the Act allows can result in confused, contradictory and even false confessions, especially those from vulnerable groups such as juveniles, mentally ill and the handicapped for example. After being charged, the suspect may be detained for a further period if: * their name or address cannot be ascertained or isn't believed, * for the protection of the suspect, property or another person * if it is believed that they will abscond or interfere with 'the administration of justice'. Again travellers, gypsies & homeless people are the ones who will be persecuted because of their lifestyle. The Bail Act does not require a fixed address before a court can grant bail, therefore in this respect the police are endowed with greater power than the courts. Access to Legal Advice The complexity of the new Police Act makes quick access to legal advice vital. However, a suspect can be denied access to a solicitor for up to 36 hours under the new laws. The right to have someone informed of your detention can also be delayed the same period. Roadblocks The police already have the power to stop any vehicle under the Road Traffic Act, intended to check a vehicle's roadworthiness. As seen during the Miner's Strike the police also have powers to stop a vehicle proceeding to prevent a breach of the peace. Only a uniformed officer may stop a vehicle. Reasonable Force The police have the power to use 'reasonable force' to exercise any power in the Act. The only exception to this rule is where the exercise of a power is specifically stated to be subject to a person's consent. The taking of intimate body samples is the only power in the Act which is always subject to consent. There are no guidelines whatsoever in the Act that define the limits of what is reasonable force. In practice it will be the police and the police alone who will decide what is reasonable. - - - SQUAT! After last week's "Office development reaches crisis point" article and the Evening Post's exclusive revelations that Reading has a bit of a housing problem it's good to see people getting their act together. For the first time the local rags have been full of stories about the enterprising young people who have taken the initiative and refused to live in a hole in the ground handing over extortionate sums of money to this Baron Beddesytte. Yes - Squatter!!! A word guaranteed to strike fear into the heart of every ratepayer. People who'll eat your babies and take over your house while you're down at the bank sorting out the overdraft facility. ...and meanwhile Arthur Micks that wicked, wicked man has sent us a change of address card. The limelight it seems was a bit much and they've found themselves a nice des res away from the glare of publicity, and what sounds like being a nice long-term investment. Anyway, I am sure these loathsome creatures will start breeding or something to get a squatting collective going. There should be a law against this sort of thing... Bah Humbug! Yours disgustedly, Scrungby Drobnik Squatters' Group: contact Box 2 at that den of iniquity, The Acorn Bookshoppe, 17 Chatham Street, Reading (+SAE???) Legal Warning (Section 6 Criminal Law Act 1977) Take Notice That we live in this house, it is our home and we intend to stay here That at all times there is at least one person in this house That any entry into this house without our permission is a criminal offence as any one of us who is in physical occupation is opposed to any entry without their permission That if you attempt to enter by violence or by threatening violence we will prosecute you. You may receive a sentence of up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £2,000 That if you want to get us out you will have to take out a summons for possession in the county court or in the High Court or produce to us a valid certificate in terms of S.7, Criminal Law Act, 1977. Signed The occupiers NB Signing this Legal Warning is optional. It is equally valid whether or not it is signed. - - - FILM & VIDEO Not much going on again this week. RFT still on holiday. The only consolation is channel 4's continuing season of film on 4 on thursdays otherwise it's the commercial cinema's in town or... films at South Hill Park, Men(15) W.Ger 1986, Dir Dorris Dorrie 96min s/titles. fri 10-sun 12. 7.45 (fri & sat 10.30 also) witty reflections of men's relationships in a menage a trois. Labyrinth(u) Br/US 1986 Dir Jim Henson 101min man 13- sun 26 april 2pm & 7pm Holiday fare in a mythical romp with a Mr D. Bowie as the leader of goblins. Apparently Norman Tebbit narrowly missed getting the part. Video Courses Reading centre for the Unwaged fridays 2-4 free to unwaged. Bracknell Centre for unwaged. Birch Hill, nr Bracknell station. A new free course starting Wed 22 April phone (B/nell 53421 for details. - - - SMALL ADS ARE FREE * Wanted: Anyone out there willing to teach the flute to a beginner on a weekly basis, for a reasonable fee? If so contact Mandy on Reading 860102 (home) or Camberley 865302 (work). * Small room to let in shared house in East Reading. Ring 665332. * We're looking for a house to rent between three friends, preferably with central heating. Any ideas? Please phone Simon or Mark on 666354. - - - FULL-MOON FUTONS We make Japanese style mattresses, (single, double, king size, cot size), cushions, pillows, yoga / massage / Shiatsu mats, to individual orders. All 100% cotton, range of colours. Pine bases. Deliveries arranged. Competitive prices. Send sae for leaflet and swatches to 20 Bulmershe Road Reading RG1 5RJ Reading (0734) 65648 - - - NEW YOUTH CND GROUP To me Reading has not been an amazingly active town politically. It has generally been up to a few committed individuals to make up for a general lack of interest. I think that anyone involved in politics at street level will tell you it's difficult to keep up momentum within a group. Most of the members of Reading Youth CND knew this before they became involved. However, a group has been formed and although it's not exactly flourishing, it's not doing badly. We have had a series of meetings following a 'day school' type of thing which was organised at national level at places all around the country. Now we have prepared ourselves for a Public Meeting to be held in April. We hope to have a couple of 'Cruisewatch' videos and a speaker, with the main aim of attracting new members and publicising future events, such as the Youth CND march on May 30 from Clapham Common to Kennington Park (where a number of bands will be playing). At the moment, a lot of work is resting on only a few people's shoulders. This is a situation which we hope to rectify through increased membership. Everybody has some skill that they can offer us, if only by the word of their mouth, as publicity is still one of our major problems. Back to the meeting. It will be held at Friends' Meeting House (thanks to BANC and Woodley Peace Group for their donations of advice, materials and the important bit - money), on April 21 from 8pm until 10pm. If anybody is interested please contact me beforehand, to give a rough idea of the size of the meeting, on Reading 661162 (ask for Yuri). - - - NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT - 'WE'RE DEMANDING IT' CND to defy police? It appears that the CND / Friends of the Earth demonstration on the 25 April will be a little more then the usual amble through Central London. The Metroploitan Police have threatened to change the route of the march, under the new public order laws. CND have told the Met that they will not, but there is still a risk that the campaign will acquiesce because many of CND's supporters would not join an illegal march. Effective opposition to the Act must mean ignoring the police request. What could the police so to a march as large as the previous CND demonstrations have been? There should be no question of CND backing down; the public order bill has already been successfully defied several times, the laws must be made unworkable. - - - THE FRUITS OF THE EARTH Trader's Shopping Centre, Station Road, Reading Specialists in Organic, Caribbean, African and S. American Fruit & Veg, Herbs, Spices, Pulses at Competitive Prices. Delivery & Wholesale Supplies Available. Telephone Reading 587660 - - - PROVING THE POINT Dear Red Rag, On the last Campaign against Police Repression March against the Public Order Act in London, I helped hand out leaflets to passers-by explaining why we were marching. Many people refused to accept them. On the whole the reaction was one of anger and hostility. I had expected a hostile reaction from a few people, but I had expected a bit more open-mindedness. I was called a fascist a couple of times which I could not quite understand. How does handing out leaflets for an anti-fascist group make me one? Where do they get that sort of idea? Would you believe that the police were actually telling people that we were a National Front demonstration! No wonder people wouldn't listen or accept leaflets. Another blatant example of the state lying to protect its own interest s (can't let them think for themselves!... oh no...we're only doing our jobs etc.) The campaign is against oppression from the police, so doesn't it prove the point that they should try and stop us from telling other people. Mr F. Foot - - - RED RAG CLASSIFIED! READIFOLK Folk song club Apr 19th 1987 8.00 pm Sunday Red Jasper & Orion Alive at The George Hotel Reading For more info on Readifolk ring Phil on Reading 597632, Dennis on Reading 597384 Tickets £1:50 £2 - - - Harris Arcade, Station Road, Reading 588425 , Designer Knitwear, Fashion Jewellery, T-Shirt Printing FOR SOCIALLY UNADJUSTED PEOPLE - - - AFTER DARK AT THE PARADISE April Dates: Sat 10: Chiefs of Relief / White Mon 13: Second Emotion / All Stars Fri 17: Good Friday closed Mon 20: Taxi Pata Pata / All Stars Tue 21: Military Surplus RDF / Home & Abroad / The Jeremiahs Fri 24: Jim Jiminee / Next Years Big Thing / Barbel Brothers Mon 27: Backbeat Band(?) / Allstars Fri 1 May: Ozric Tentacles Admission on door 9.30-Late, Last Band 11.30 112 London St. Reading. - - - PRESSGANG CLUB Roots Music, every Thursday Attacoo Decente 23 April at the Cap & Gown A Pressgang Special £2 in advance: tickets from Pop Records - - - MUSIC FOR FOLK OK. This time we're sitting outside in the sunshine, the breeze wafting the paper, birds twittering. Is this really town centre Reading? Folk music. Ah yes. Did we ever decide what it was? Thurs 9: Pressgang's club at the Cap & Gown, Kings Rd have Suzanne Chaumer & Johnny London. Don't know anything about them, but Pressgang's guests are always worth investigating. £1 pre-9.30. Maidenhead Polk Club have Third Degree Burns, 3 women who are supposed to be a bit like proper Little Madams, witty and all that. Must get someone like that to Reading... That's at the Rose, King St, M'head. Bracknell on Sat 11th: (sorry about the typing; all this fresh air's too much) Anyway: Strawhead, the band we should all hate, cos they do stuff about the Civil War and they're on the wrong side. Shock Horror. My own problem with them was that I couldn't cope with what they were doing but boy did I like their energy. An intriguing little ideological dilemma for you. Sun 12: At Readifolk are the Journeymen, a duo known locally as Phil & Richard. Excellent teaming of Richard's rippling guitar with Phil's lovely voice. A good evening, I'll bet. Mon 13: Nettlebed, at the Bull, High St, have local trio Scotch Measure, who actually are Scottish and very good. Grand arrangements, and Sylvia Barnes' voice is definitely worth hearing. Tues 14: Singers' Night at the friendly Turk's Bottom Club at the Cap & Gown. And let's hear it from all you lot who used to have a go back in the days of the Bistro Backroom. Eh? Thurs l6: Pressgang are shut. So, if you can work out some transport you could treat yourselves to Capercaillie at the very fine West End Centre in Aldershot, (Queen's Rd, turn by the church) They're a Scottish 6-piece, part of the Gaelic revival. "Fiery". £3:50, 8pm. More details 95/330040. Maidenhead have John Somerville who I believe is the man who used to run the club. Unassuming, with excellent taste. Voice and guitar. Sun 19: Readifolk have Red Jasper, whose demo tape reveals very interesting vocals (deep and with relish, male) and flowing bass. Electric and boppy arrangements of trad material. Support may be the duo Orion, who've just done a record. Check it out. Nettlebed and the Turk's B are shut. The club at the Toad and Stumps at Eversley Cross have Steve Turner, concertina and songs. That's Wednesday 22nd. Thurs 23: The gig of the fortnight. Attacco Decente at the Pressgang club. Young acoustic male trio with challenging personal / political songs and a South American influence in melodies and arrangements. They don't "belong" in the folk scene, specially their vocal style, but I've seen them win over a folk audience in minutes, resoundingly. They do a lot of youth club work, too. Zithers, guitars, dulcimers and the biggest, most sonorous tongue drum I've ever heard. If you don't know what that is, now's your chance. Highly recommended. Sat 25: Bracknell have Jim Couza, the hammered dulcimer giant. Seen busking in Bath in the summer. Sun 26: Readifolk have a St. George's night, with the accent on English material. Given how international it's been getting down there lately, it almost seems a shame! That's at the George (of course), corner of Bread Street. Today's also the day for the 1st local folk festival of the year, at Farnham Maltings: the least orthodox one. £9 for the day (12 - 11, doors open at 11.30. All under cover, and it's a nice venue to amble round sampling acts you've never heard of. Bars, food (including veggie), stalls. No creche. Bar sessions, barn dance. Showcase for up and coming talent (Pete Morton singer / songwriter, Andy White, "Rory McLeod also but see May 6) international artists (Gambian kora players and Moroccan oud player / percussionist / vocalist Hassan Erraji), trad singing from the Copper Family, spirited songs and fiddling from Peta Webb & Pete Cooper, also the Easy Club with Scottish swing, the Oyster Band, Crazy Hearts, Brendan Croker, Dick Gaughan & more. And Andy Kershaw as M.C. Gosh. More details from 95/724638. Forthcomings include Andy Irvine at Farnham Sun May 3rd; John Kirkpatrick and Roger Watson, melodeon maestros at Nettlebed Mon April 27; Ian Main, polished Scots singer & guitarist at the Turks Bottom Tues 28, and Rory McLeod, also there Tues May 5, he of the political love songs, manic harmonica and tapping feet. Sorry about the typing. Blame the sun. Any details of anything relevant to the Folk bit, Box 79, 17, Chatham St, Reading. Or ring Liz on Reading 53437. And a brief word from our sponsor..... The tape of Leon Rosselson, for those that came, and those that missed him, recorded live at the Paradise Club oh 24th March is out now. It's 1 1/2 hrs long, available from Acorn and very lovely it is too... - - - (paid ad) READIFOLK Folk song club Apr 5th June Tabor and Martin Simpson 12th The Journeymen 19th Red Jasper 26th St George's Night - Singers plus Kennet Morris Men May 3rd Martin Carthy Sunday at 8.00 pm at the George Hotel Reading For more info on Readifolk ring Phil on Reading 597632, Dennis on Reading 597384 - - - BURGERGATE The Vegan this month reports on a major scandal that has erupted within the Vegetarian Society following revelations that a member of its Council of Management - Richard Turner of Tollerton North Yorkshire - has been openly selling beefburgers and other meat products from his privately owned business premises. "Business is business...you've got to give the public what it wants...I am not ashamed of anything I have done", Turner is quoted as saying. On being challenged to reconcile his position as a trustee of the Vegetarian Society with the promotion of meat products he retorted that the Society's existing rules allow a butcher or even a slaughterman to serve on the Council. Since at a recent Council meeting, a number of several members failed to support calls for his resignation, six outraged Council members have issued a statement condemning his promotion and retail of meat products, and welcome letters of support for their stand, which should be sent to: 11 Cathcart Place (2f3), Edinburgh EH11 2HD. - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1987/1987-04-07.txt#3 $