05.07.2000

Hooligans

Hooligans are on the rampage and the Blairites are out to stop them. Alternatively, of course, it may be that Tony and his New Labour tops are panicking because mid-July crime figures will show their law and order efforts have not been effective in tackling important areas of public concern. Most likely, they are continually looking for ways in which social concerns and problems may be solved in ways inimical to the working class and the majority of the population, but which enhance and protect the power of the capitalist state.

Home secretary Jack Straw got up in a nearly deserted Commons on Tuesday this week to announce new legislation ostensibly aimed at football hooligans and the "shame" they are bringing on "the nation" and "the national game" of soccer. Yes, the government is exhibiting continuing shock at some English fans' behaviour at Euro 2000, with Straw even casting doubt on whether any of them are "real" fans. He wants more to be done to hammer them. Although the Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999, which came into effect in September last year, allows magistrates to confiscate passports, in only 33 of the 200 or so cases where defendants have been found guilty under its provisions has this been done. Straw quite blatantly stated in parliament that this was not good enough and that all of them should have lost their passports. Leaving aside what other penalties would have been imposed on the remaining majority of those convicted under the 1999 Act in the last 10 months, and the fact that passports can be confiscated at present if there is evidence that this will prevent violence, Straw wants more stringent action.

Sweeping aside objections from Labour, Liberal and a few Tory MPs apparently concerned at the human rights issues involved, the home secretary insisted that a new law could well be in place by the end of July. The Conservative front bench approves and promises qualified support in parliament for pushing through this 'urgent' legislation at the expense of scheduled parliamentary business.

Straw wants to combine domestic and international banning orders, widening the geographical reach of such prohibitions. At present, there are only 106 international bans in place, while there are 400 domestic bans. He also intends to make everyone who is liable to a banning order surrender their passport, removing the courts' present discretion and making this penalty mandatory against those convicted. Most dangerous of all, he proposes a civil process whereby police would be able to apply for a court order even if someone has not been convicted of any offence, as well as a new power to prevent someone leaving the country where police believe the person is out to make trouble.

But New Labour's panic proposals flout basic rights, including the right to due process and the right to travel. And the basis upon which the police would act against alleged hooligans, the information gleaned from who knows what sources, places a fond faith in our boys in blue that anyone who has been involved with the law would consider shaky, not to say deranged.

Jack Straw's foray in the Commons is the latest in a week's scrabbling around in the law and order bran tub for a prize idea with which to divert public fears over rising crime. He needs to answer tabloid calls for something to be done against football and city centre yobbery. It is of course in this guise that democratic rights can be further trampled on.

However, Tony Blair flew a kite too high last week by suggesting on-the-spot fines for those 'disturbing the peace'. These would be levied by the police, who would escort alleged miscreants to a handy ATM for a œ100 payment directly into the officer's hot little hand. After uproar from press and police, only too conscious of the possibilities such a scheme would present for corruption, Blair and his spin doctors realised their imaginations had caused them to overreach themselves and beat a hasty retreat.

Courts are, however, to be given new powers to impose orders of variable duration which will prohibit known troublemakers from going into any pub; life bans will be available for those considered to be the worst offenders.