The Shrewsbury 24 were trade unionists who had taken part in a successful national strike of building workers in 1972 to back up their demands for better pay and conditions. The Tory government of the time instructed the police to investigate alleged picketing incidents that had taken place in Shrewsbury, where unions were poorly organised.

In February 1973 the first six of twenty four pickets were arrested, tried at three separate trials and six of them were sent to prison.  The longest sentences – three and two years respectively – were imposed on Des Warren and Ricky Tomlinson for “conspiring to intimidate people to abstain from their lawful work” and for the lesser charges of affray and unlawful assembly (subsequently quashed on appeal).

Labour movement protests at the time of the trial of the “Shrewsbury Two”, as they had become known, focussed on the use of the 1875 Conspiracy Act and by the judge’s advice to the jury that conspiracy could be proved even if there was no evidence that the accused had ever met together, had reached a decision as a result of having a conversation or had expressed anything in writing – it could be done “with a nod and a wink”

What happened when they were sent to prison

Through 1974 and 1975 there was a labour movement campaign for the release of the Shrewsbury Two but, despite the best efforts of their supporters, Des and Ricky served their time behind bars.  Dennis Warren spent just under three years in 12 different gaols and on his release published a pamphlet drawing attention to the many injustices he had suffered in prison.  Ricky Tomlinson, who was released in 1975, has since gone on to become a popular TV and film actor.  He has written about his Shrewsbury experience in his autobiography and, after Des died in 2005, delivered a moving oration at Des’s funeral.

Let’s clear their names now!

Following Des’s death in 2005 members of the South West London Shrewsbury Defence Committee agreed with Des’s family to launch a campaign to clear the names of all the Shrewsbury pickets.

A free pardon for the Shrewsbury 24

Ricky Tomlinson speaking at the Justice for the Shrewsbury 24 Rally

Shrewsbury 24 Campaign Video

Conspiracy Laws Still being Used Today Against Activists

The infamous conspiracy laws are still being used today to fit up trades union activists. Leaders of Unite Against Fascism who demonstrated in Bolton against the racist English Defence League in March 2010 face possible imprisonment under the conspiracy laws. All of them are trades union activists--including a member of the NUJ in Manchester. They urgently need support and solidarity. Read more at the justice4bolton site.

What do Conspiracy Charges Mean?

Some of the anti-fascist activists who were arrested in Bolton face potential charges of conspiracy to incite violent disorder. Use of conspiracy laws is a highly unusual and very worrying step, which threatens both anti-racist activity and wider civil liberties. Here is a three-point guide that illustrates the danger of such charges.

Breadth of scope for the prosecution…

A conspiracy charge on the one hand is very narrow in that the prosecution only have to prove that there was an agreement, a plot to commit a crime. The plot is the criminal act itself. However in another way it is a very broad charge in that the agreement can be proved by inferences – that is circumstances from which it can be presumed.

No need for actual disorder…

A conspiracy to commit violent disorder would be an agreement to commit violent disorder. The actual violent disorder need not have taken place, if the plot or agreement can be proved. That means the prosecution only have to prove a plot and can draw on what evidence they like that could infer there was a plot.

No need for alleged ‘conspirators’ to correspond…

A conspiracy can exist between persons who have neither seen nor corresponded with each other.