[g8-sheffield] Happy New SOCPA (take time to read)

[worldwarfree at riseup.net]

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA) is a major piece
of legislation, which established the Serious Organised Crime Agency, an
FBI-like agency to tackle "serious organised crime", as it says on the
box.

People-trafficking, drug wholesaling, violent armed robbery, torture,
extortion and murder, is the kind of thing that might spring to mind. The
bill, however, was used as an opportunity to deal with issues that might
not be considered so serious. It introduced us to ASBO's, for example;
outlawed animal activists' "interference with contractual arrangements"
and, most pertinently, the right to protest in designated areas without
prior permission.

https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/12/358863.html a comprehensive
'diary', put together by IMC UK activists, of events related to SOCPA
since it came into force on 1 August, 2005. See also the SOCPA
https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2006/socpa/ topic page for
full coverage.

One of the moust important articals published on indymedia please take
time to read and spam it to all your contacts thanks in advance.