Antagonism and authority
Sir,—ln saying that “civil liberties councils have emasculated the police,” Vernon Wilkinson (July 10) over-estimates our power and completely misrepresents our aims. Police powers are based directly on the law, and only Parliament can change that. The protection of civil liberties requires an effective police force that acts on the law and has the confidence of the public. The Council for Civil Liberties seeks always to enhance that role by bringing to the attention of the police, the public and the legislators those occasional violations of legal procedures that tend to undermine public confidence in the police. I cannot understand how such a watchdog role can be linked by Mr Wilkinson with the “me” generation, for the members of the council firmly believe that our contribution, however unpopular with authoritarians and elitists, is to the protection of the rights of every citizen. — Yours, etc., W. E. WILLMOTT, Chairman, Canterbury Council for Civil Liberties. July 11, 1985.
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Press, 13 July 1985, Page 18
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159Antagonism and authority Press, 13 July 1985, Page 18
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