[National strikes across Australia have been called for…]

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National strikes across Australia have been called for this week after the arrest of 10 trade unionists in Perth last week.

The arrests came after two officials of the Amalgamated Metal Workers and Shipwrights Union had spoken at a meeting of 200 workers in the mining industry of Karratha, which has been the scene of growing militant action.

Under the state laws of Western Australia, the speeches needed the previous permission of the police commissioner, who was not consulted.

Thousands of trade unionists and anti-fascists turned out last week at the funeral of murdered Anti Nazi League supporter Blair Peach.

Peach was killed by a single blow to the head administered in front of witnesses by a thug from the police Special Patrol Group.

But scarcely had the mourners and demonstrators returned home than Metropolitan police chief Sir David McNee was hitting the headlines with vigorous statements Ir defence of the SPG.

There had, he claimed, been 'ill-founded criticism" of the SPG from "certain sections of the community"

These "sections" are of course becoming increasingly wide as armed SPG thugs extend their operations to the wholesale harassment of black youth and workers, the smashing of picket lines, the defence of fascist meetings, and violent attacks on peaceful demonstrators. : So brazen was SPG brutality massive-riots at Southall killing of Peach led recently to a four-day interrogation and subsequent release of an unknown SPG driver, along with the revelation that SPG lockers contained over 40 illegal weapons. alleged to be "souvenirs"

Total curfew

An indication of the picketbusting role of the police and the SPG can be seen when McNee's report reveals that the force was used last year against workers in 750 industrial disputes-compared with its role in harassing youth at only 300 football matches.

As for the mounting violence against black youth, McNee's answer at a news conference was effectively to propose a total curfew. Replying to a black reporter, he declared that:

"If you keep off the streets of London [!] and behave yourselves, you won't have to worry about the SPG".

So much for the police preserving "law and order' on the streets!

He went on:

"I understand the concern of your people |!]. But if you don't get into trouble you won't come into confrontation with the police."

McNee's implicit threat to any youth found on "the streets of London" was echoed on the Police in action in Southall same day by Manchester's Chief Constable James Andertonwho became notorious for the huge police protection he laid on to allow NF leader Martin Webster to march through the streets of Tameside.

Anderton called for the institution of "penal work camps" for "marauding gangs of dirty youths and men"

Shoot to kill

His own Manchester elite squad, the armed Tactical Aid Group, modelled on the SPG, was shown recently on television in training on militarystyle manoeuvres shooting to kill at man-shaped targets and in action roughing up youth outside a football match.

There is no doubt whatever that with the class battles to come under the Tories, the

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