bruised testicie, " that testible. to squeezing that testicle' policeman has apparently admitted to squeezing Kelly's pathologist is of the opinion that the bruise was more like to have caused by a blow from the fist or koce In addition to these injuries there were numerous abrasions which were so extensive that it was unlikely that they could have been caused by Kelly rolling over on the ground. The concludes that Jimmy Kelly, who was in very poor health shock — the result of his beating — or chiefly as a result of his broken jaw.
The police story is that Kelly was found unconscious on waste ground. This story is contested by a number of eye witnesses who allege that a police car knocked him down and that the officers then proceeded to beat him up. The police have to explain, among other things, why they needed to use and how he received the injuries he did.
The police's best chances fattis an a half empty bottle of La half-empty whiskey, allegedly found in Kelly's pocket thereby 'proving' drunkenness was found to have several sets fingerprints on it, none of which were the deceased's.
After a number of demonstrations in Huyton, some of which were 1,000 strong, the Jimmy Kelly Committee is now resting its hopes on either public inquiry coroner's court to establish the truth behind Jimmy Kelly's death. Tommy Banks, chairperson of the Action Committee told Socialist Challenge that they were launching an appeal to raise £14,000 to pay for the services of a QC in the coroner's court.
Donations to: Molly Curran, 58 Barkbeth Rd, Huyton, Liverpool.
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:24 Jnuary 1980 Paged AN EDITORIAL in The Times was headed, 'The Police Protest Too Much'. There followed an article which mildly reprimanded mood the leading lights in the police for attack their mildest critics with accusa, tions of plotting to overthrow 'The police must learn to be less sensitive to honest criticism', said been an exceptional editorial because, as the historian EP ThompThe Times could normally be subtitled "The Organ of beries But now The Times has dared to offer a few words of reproach to the and order. That voice has been added to many others from the establishment, even the Daily Telegraph has called for an inquiry into into the murder of Jimmy Kelly.
• The criticism has been fuelled not just by the death of Kelly and others 'Operation This inquiry into police corruption has revealed that London cops are no longer satisfied with dabbling in the porn and drug market but are now organising armed hold-ups and the killing of anyone of these critics always amicable, 'They are basically Photo: G.M. COO Anvil, £2.50 friends not enemies', said the top people's paper. 'But', The Times went on, 'the police in their present are danger alienating their support.
For the ruling class the worry is that the image of the friendly, neutral bobby on the beat is being questioned. Which means people might begin to wonder what exactly constitutes "law and order'.
Police chiefs themselves
prone to blowing the gaif of late. For instance the former boss of the London police, Robert Mark, has written how his cops had 72,750 burglaries, 2,680 and 450 demonstrations' 1973. The running together of these categories suggests that seriousness and they are all 'crimes'.
Southall's racist trials have been held. Among picket was that of the Such an attitude is reflected in a story Peter Hain tells of how when the Douce were trving to frame nim for a bank robbery, rogators told him: a lot of trouble with your activities and protests make sure this charge sticks on you.
For many police a political protest is just another form of criminalitv: tor some it is the have Manchester's police Anderton, said greatest threat to 'law and order' came from "deal Mark has WHICH rob- Shrewsbury worst of all crimes, worse even than murder'.
There is a temptation to dismiss Anderton and Mark as a couple of particularly right-wing AS part of the Southall week of action, 400 people marched to and picketed Pentonville prison on Sunday. This is where a number of those convicted in Kings Cross branch of the rail union ASLEF.
assumptions. one of his inter- 2,154 'You have caused Director alleging and we are going to • worst form chief, James recently that the will be killers, "seditionists'. Robert that the have pickets "committed the Towers' death.
lunalics, Nutcases wing pointed "law and order' stance Metrono far the banners on the Pentonville that. simoiv a few rotten apples'.
But there are problems with such In 1978, there were complaints referred to the of Public Prosecutions police assault, and 2230 complaints of assault submitted to the Police Complaints Board under section 2(1) of the Police Act, 1976. Yet in not one of these cases were disciplinary charges made.
Similarly, the DPP has said there Pro prosecution of Kelly's Blair Peach's murderers also seem likely to get off scott free for Lies those responsible All of which disputes the 'rotten apples' argument. The conspiracy to pervert justice starts the ordinary copper but involves the Police Complaints Board; the DPP and ultimately the government itself.
Anderton and Mark may be rightnutcases, but they were ap by the Home Secretary Labour and Tory. The murky, crooked world of the police may now be beginning to be exposed, yet Thatcher's only response has been to massively increase expenditure on her In this way, the views of Anderton and Thatcher are the same. Both recognise that in the next couple of . be a rise of social discontent, and social protest, both that their "law and order' priority is to restrain that discontent and defeat that protest.
To gain information to help them in these tasks the police are willing to go to considerable lengths. For • In.
each week the London Police obtain, by subscription, nine copies of Socialist what do the need nine copies for? We worry abou