The trial of the Shrewsbury pickets is a
gross miscarriage of justice in the 20th century still unresolved. Please sign the online petition.
The trial of the Shrewsbury pickets is a
gross miscarriage of justice in the 20th century still unresolved.
In
the words of John Platts-Mills QC.( leading defence counsel ).
"The
trial of the Shrewbury pickets is the only case I know of where the
government has ordered a prosecution in defiance of the advice of senior
police & prosecution authorites."
This is despite two police forces
having interveiwed some 800 witnesses & decided that they could not
identify any wrong doers. Throughout the picketing the police had
accompanied the pickets & congratulated them on their conduct no
arrests were made. The home secretary ordered the police to bring
proceedings & in February 1973, six months later, thirty one were
arrested, of whom 24 were prosecuted.
This trial was conducted after
huge industrial unrest during the Heath government. Five striking
dockers had to be released from prison due to public protest. The
government was determined to redress the situation .
The two pickets
that paid the highest price were Des Warren and Eric Tomlinson ( Ricky
of Royle Family fame ) who were jailed for 3 and 2 years respectively
under an 1875 Conspiracy Act.
210 charges were brought against the
pickets the jury disposed of the lesser charges but failed to reach a
decision on conspiracy. The jury were told that they would only receive
fines; when sentenced the foreman of the jury stormed out shouting it’s
disgraceful, another juror followed.
Under the Thirty Year Rule in
2006 documents were released but the government withheld key documents
claiming they would threaten national security???
My interest is
simple I was involved in the Building Workers strike in 1972. I
witnessed the trial and its injustice along with many thousands of
others. Building workers marched from Wigan to London in 1973 demanding
justice, thousands joined them when they reached London.I am a member of
the Justice for
Shrewsbury Pickets National Committee, which campaigns for the defence
of the
right to picket and the exoneration of the convicted Shrewsbury
pickets.
I remain outraged and continue to fight for justice and would appreciate your support.
Click here to sign the online petition:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Justice_for_Shrewsbury_Pickets_40_years_on/?efsicbb
