John Pilger: A Nod and a Wink TV -
36,389. A law made before the Middle Ages and never sanctioned by parliament has been dug up quite recently to be used virtually unchanged as a tool of suppression. Let’s be quite clear. This law can affect us all ... At your trial you can be convicted on rumours, on who you are, on how you live, on what your friends are. Conspiracy, an English judge said recently, can amount to a nod and a wink. (Conspiracy & Miscarriages of Justice: Shrewsbury Pickets & Hyett et al) John Pilger, A Nod and a Wink, ITV 1975
36,390. In 1973 Shrewsbury building workers campaigned against the notorious Lump – the use of non-union labour and its acceptance of dangerous work conditions. At the trial of the Shrewsbury pickets, who are charged with conspiracy to intimidate, the judge said, You know very well it can be a conspiracy when they never met and they never knew each other. (Conspiracy & Miscarriages of Justice: Shrewsbury Pickets & Hyett et al) ibid.
36,392. These laws are a dragnet, a perfect weapon to use against critics of the prevailing order and political opposition ... A great many lawyers are appalled by the use of the conspiracy laws ... Used to intimidate and silence all kinds of dissent ... The conspiracy laws can in effect by used to invent new crimes. Indeed the application of these laws is unlimited, and they are in my view bad laws. (Conspiracy & Miscarriages of Justice: Shrewsbury Pickets & Hyatt et al) ibid.