EU police to be above the law?The history of Anglo-Saxon common law, to which America's concept of liberty under law is heir, describes a long, painful struggle to rein in to check the speed of, or cause to stop, by drawing the reins. to cause (a person) to slow down or cease some activity; - to rein in is used commonly of superiors in a chain of command, ordering a subordinate to moderate or cease some activity deemed excessive. See also: Rein Rein the unaccountable powers of government and its agents. The European Union European Union (EU), name given since the ratification (Nov., 1993) of the Treaty of European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, to the European Community , by way of contrast, descends from the French Revolution and its Communist offspring, which promoted the vision of an all-powerful state. Under European Communities Order 1997, entitled "Immunities and Privileges of the European Police Office," members of the EU's police force (the Europol) "shall enjoy immunity from suit and legal process in respect of acts, including words written or spoken, done by them in the exercise of their official functions." Veritas Group, an organization of British "Euro-skeptics," contends that this grants Europol officers "authority to steal, lie and even kill in the course of their duties" and that "the public will have no right of redress." "It beggars belief that the government [is] prepared to allow foreign police officers to operate on British soil unchecked by law," complained Veritas leader Damian Hockney Damian Hockney is a British politician and the leader of the One London Party. He leads the One London group on the London Assembly and is also a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority. in an April 11 message to the London Assembly The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the Mayor's annual budget. . "As a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) is the police authority responsible for supervising the Metropolitan Police Service, the police force for Greater London (excluding the City of London Police area). , I am deeply concerned that an outside force can operate in London without authority from the Met, completely free of any oversight or constraint." |
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