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From The Socialist newspaper, 24 March 2021
Police invade student homes
Socialist Students bloc on the anti-Trump demo, 4.6.19, photo Naomi Byron (Click to enlarge)
As if we students did not have enough to deal with - facing a lack of university support, and paying extortionate rent for rooms we haven't been able to live in - we now might get a midnight visit from our local bobby. Students at the universities of Sheffield and Manchester are concerned that university bosses may have given police officers keys to their flats to check for any rule-breaking, socialising or flaunting of the Covid guidelines.
A student at Froggatt Halls in Sheffield explained that the police had visited her flat three times within the last month, the first being at 1.30am while she was in bed. Students at Manchester and Leeds also gave similar stories of officers entering their flats unexpectedly and patrolling to search for gatherings, with the officers usually being quite forceful or aggressive.
The universities deny handing keys to officers. But Manchester students have created the Cops Off Campus campaign to ensure police only visit to respond to incidents, and stop searching properties unlawfully.
This situation would be worrying in usual circumstances, but with the current tensions arising over police brutality and the police and protesting bill put forward by the Tories, I cannot help but feel like this is another tendril of the authoritarianism of this government.
Public opinion of the police is low, and events like this further drive a spike into the idea of the police making us feel safe.
Adam Calvert, Sheffield Socialist Students
Socialist Students day of action
- 21 April 2021
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
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In The Socialist 24 March 2021:
Protest
Defying the anti-protest restrictions
Police attempt to silence mothers
NHS
Haringey: Hands off our GP practices
Elections
Battle for a fighting, anti-austerity Liverpool mayor
Help fund the Socialist Party's stand as part of TUSC
Fighting Sexual Harassment
Fighting sexual harassment and gender violence on campus
Paris Commune 150 Years
150th anniversary of the Paris Commune
2011 Pensions Strike
Lessons of the 2011 pensions strike: when workers showed their power
Workplace News
PCS elections: increased support for Broad Left Network
Engineering workers strike against 'fire and rehire' in Leicester
'Sleep-ins' ruling must lead to a huge campaign for social care workers' rights
Shrewsbury Pickets win: Convictions overturned
Sparks continue protests against deskilling
Beal High school strike as management refuse to negotiate over fair sick pay scheme
Preparing to organise workers in Enfield
Support victimised bus driver reps and Socialist Party members Declan and Moe
Goodlord workers continue all-out strike
Campaigns
Save John Carroll - fight is far from over!
Stop evictions and drop the debts
Online meeting - Ending violence against women, the socialist approach
Socialist Party regional conferences meet online
Readers' Opinion
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2021