Not content with creating 300 new crimes since Neo-Labour came to power, David Blunkett managed a couple of weeks back to sneak his authoritarian orgy of a Criminal 'Justice' Bill through parliament - with a whole load of extra amendments stitched onto it at the last minute that had never been subject to any parliamentary scrutiny. Even the super-mad Tory Anne Widdecombe described it as 'extremely dangerous'. The extras include the extension of the amount of time people suspected of terrorism can be held without charge. Meanwhile, the main body of the Bill - which goes to the Lords on the 16th June - is making sure the balance of the law will always remain firmly in favour of the State, in what Helena Kennedy QC has called a "confidence trick" with the intention of doing something "quite frightening to civil liberties." And how about these for some erosions of YOUR basic rights? GOING, The right to a trial by jury - starting with ones they reckon 'ordinary' people are too thick to get to grips with like fraud or cases that go on for a long time. MPs, lawyers and civil rights campaigners alike are warning that this can readily be extended to any or all cases where the State's intentions run the risk of being thwarted by 12 members of the public. GOING, The double jeopardy rule which means you can't be tried twice for the same crime. GONE. This is Tony's favourite: prosecutors will now be allowed to cite previous misconduct. Liberty warns "this will result in convictions not because the defendant has committed an offence, but because he is the type of person who commits offences". And coming soon will be the admission of hearsay evidence, something someone says they heard about the defendant - you know, like you heard that Arabic looking man who runs the corner shop was a terrorist. Be careful what you say down the pub! And there's still loads more new crimes in the pipeline, with the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill also currently going through parliament. If you haven't already got a criminal record this could be your chance - riding a bike on the pavement for example will soon be a criminal offence. Meanwhile, the government's hatred of young people passes into the statute books with draconian measures aimed at making sure children are neither seen nor heard. More than two youths standing together on the street, for example, will soon be committing an offence. This comes as a report by Lord Carlisle highlights a ninefold increase in the number of under-15s being sent to jail, in clear breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. One of the most controversial new powers Blunkett's giving the cops will be to remove under-16s from the street if they reckon a member of the public feels 'intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed' by them. If you feel intimidated, harassed, alarmed and distressed by this government ... you know what to do. More info: Liberty - 020 7403 3888 and www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk. Sourced from those fine poeple at SchNEWS