Nomadic Lifestyles   The rights of “travellers”, those with nomadic cultures and lifestyles, should be respected and their dignity upheld. SoCLA will seek the reinstatement of a statutory public duty for the provision of suitable travellers sites throughout the UK, and strive to secure resources for the proper education and acculturation of travelling children.

Trial by Jury   SoCLA asserts the primacy of securing fairness to all defendants in the conduct of criminal prosecutions and trials, and in particular rejects the Government’s attempts to curtail trial-by-jury for the purposes of financial and administrative economy.  The participation of juries in the administration of justice represents a key democratic feature of the UK Constitution, a safeguard against the abuse of State power, and SoCLA will seek to secure the retention and development of the present system.

Natural Persons Only    SoCLA will seek the amendment of the European Convention of  Human Rights to restrict its operation to the assertion of the rights of natural persons only, making it impossible for any artificial or “legal” person, whether commercial corporation or otherwise, to avail itself of ECHR protection.

Lay Magistrature    The lay magistrature represents a key feature of participatory democracy in the UK, and should be retained and extended.  The presence of a strong lay magistrature forms part of the overall system of checks-and-balances within the UK Constitution, constituting a safeguard against the abuse of State power.  While measures are needed to extend the scope of JP recruitment, to improve JP training and the calibre of professional legal guidance accessible to Magistrates Courts, SoCLA will resist attempts to professionalise the lay magistracy, or to transfer its functions to the mainstream judiciary.

Political Freedom     SoCLA considers that the traditional political freedoms (of opinion, religion and philosophy, association, and expression as outlined in the European Convention) constitute a vital safeguard for freedom throughout society, and should be actively asserted at all times; in particular, no public servant should be required to forego the personal right to join any political movement. 

• Where, in the case of senior or other key personnel, it may be legitimate to restrict the political activity or public manifestation of political allegiance of any person, that restriction should be no more extensive than is necessary in a democratic society, and the individuals affected should be given ample notice of the scope, character and rationale of any proposed restriction.

Detention of “Psychopaths”  SoCLA opposes the use of detention powers exercisable without conviction or evidence of criminal behaviour.  Such powers are very intrusive, and eminently capable of abuse even in the hands of qualified medical practitioners; on balance, the systemic risks posed by the detention procedure itself constitute a greater threat than the risks of personal injury generated by the originating personality malfunction.  The risks of the latter should, as a matter of balanced political judgment, be accepted.