We write with heavy hearts this week as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons. We know that the fight against this Bill and its promise of intensified suppression is far from over. We have spent much of this week reflecting on the importance of solidarity for this struggle. As the Bill takes one step closer to becoming law, we are proud to have spent much of this week nourishing our relationships with organisations in that same fight.
In solidarity, The 4Front Project Team
Highlights
4Front attend launch of War Inna Babylon Exhibition
On Tuesday, 4Front attended the exhibition launch of War Inna Babylon: The Community’s Struggle for Truths and Rights. The powerful exhibition showcased an in-depth experience of the Black communities’ response to decades of societal and institutional racism. Curated in part by Tottenham Rights, the exhibition resonated with much of our team’s own lived experience of state racism, and of community resistance. The exhibition brought to life the crucial role solidarity plays in families’ fights for justice, and the victories Black community campaigns have won. As always when we learn more about our history, our team left with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to struggles for peace and justice. An immersive exhibit, War Inna Babylon connects documentary photography with archival material, film and 3D technology to present the past as a reflection of our present-day political and social issues. Book tickets for the exhibition here.
Newsbite
Knife Crime Prevention Orders: Punitive, not preventative
By Megan McElhone:
On 5 July 2021, the Metropolitan Police will commence a 14-month-long pilot of Knife Crime Prevention Orders (KCPOs), which were created by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. The Home Office has already declared its intention to roll KCPOs out across England and Wales once the Met Police’s pilot concludes. KCPOs resemble the now-infamous Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) introduced by New Labour in 1998. They are civil orders made by courts, following an application by the police or Crown Prosecution Service, against people who are thought to present a threat to the public by using or carrying knives or bladed articles. While KCPOs are civil orders, people found in breach of their Orders can be punished with a prison sentence of up to two years. Read more... [via Abolitionist Futures]
Is it too late to 'Kill the Bill'?
By Ben Smoke:
Last night (July 5), the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill passed its third reading in the commons. The Bill, known by many as simply the ‘Policing Bill’ passed with 365 votes to 265, with all but three members of the Parliamentary Conservative Party voting for it. The 300-page piece of proposed legislation was given less than five hours of consideration at report stage before moving on to a vote. Read more... [via Huck Magazine]
Spotlight
Hidden Survivors: The Mental Health Struggles of Young British Muslims
This week, we’re spotlighting Hidden Survivors, a new report by Better Community Business Network in partnership with the University of East London, School of Psychology. Hidden Survivors: Uncovering the Mental Health Struggles of Young British Muslims reveals the extent to which young Muslims suffer from mental health issues. The findings indicate that 4 in 5 young Muslim people have suffered mental health struggles, with 64% disclosing they had experienced suicidal thoughts. Young Muslims are 3 times more likely to look for support from friends than accessing services and are often not able to access therapy at all. You can read the full report here.
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