"armies' growth

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A 12,000 strong army of 'special' police with training in riot control now exists in Britain.

A further 12,000 are now trained in the use of firearms-according to a report from State Research. Just under half the forces in the country-24 out of 52-had special squads modelled on the Special Patrol Group. The research group also discovered another 28 forces with 'public support units' which are used in industrial disputes and demonstrations.

'Civil defence'

PSUs were set up in 1974, supposedly to act as "civil defence' after nuclear war.

In fact 'peacetime training' has revealed that they are trained to create their own holocausts on picket lines.

During the NF march in Leicester in April 1979 20 forces sent their PSUs to make up the 5,000 police contingent.

Nine forces have specialised firearms units and 10% of all police receive firearms training. The issuing of firearms rose by 800% between 1970 and 1979, when firearms were issued on 8,374 occasions.

Even this figure does not allow for protection of VIPs and guarding convoys.

*State Research Bulletin No. 19, 9 Poland Street, London W1. Price 50p.

Bidwell Ealing Council is the Tory council that insisted that the fascist NF had the right to free speech and a meeting in Southall Town Hall.

This was, of course, the meeting that led to the police riot in which Blair Peach was murdered.

Fined After unsuccessfully trying to get a trade union rally in Southall Park banned in the High Courts the council has now succeeded in getting Labour MP for Southall Syd Bidwell and three trade union leaders fined for addressing it.

This is despite the fact that both the police and the superintendant of parks had given verbal permission for the rally.

The council refused permission only five days before the meeting and long after it had been widely advertised.