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Alarm over disorders is growing, however, in many other countries throughout Europe. Greece's colonels rarely deliver a speech without invoking law and order, along with religion and patriotism, as the totems of their repressive regime. In The Netherlands, which is a traditionally tolerant country, patience of the Dutch has been worn thin by the calculatedly outrageous antics of the "provos" (short for provokers) in recent years. During the national Liberation Day celebration two weeks ago, 140 provos and other student activists were arrested. Even in relatively placid Switzerland, police fought students outside the Spanish consulate in Zurich recently in a rare outbreak of street violence.
Model of Stability. The issue has had its greatest impact in Britain and France. In Britain, demonstrations and disorders are far rarer and milder than in the U.S. But violent crime has risen 7% in each of the last two years, and law and order consequently promises to be a major issue in the coming election campaign. In an attack on the Labor government, Conservative Member of Parliament Quintin Hogg recently accused Prime Minister Harold Wilson of "presiding complacently over the biggest crime wave of the century." Another Tory M.P., Sir Peter Rawlinson, promised that if the Tories gain power, "we shall recommend much heavier fines for trespassing students," and possibly imprisonment as well. Though Wilson replied by noting, "We are still an example of stability to the world," a Louis Harris poll showed that 77% of the electorate considered law and order an important election issue. Another survey indicated that 50% thought demonstrations should be allowed only if they were "more strictly controlled," and 32% thought they should be banned altogether.
British police already have the discretionary power to stop and search anyone they think might be carrying drugs—which, by and large, means the long-haired young and even the not-so-young. Photographer David Bailey, 32, whose hair stretches almost to his shoulders, complains that he was recently held by London police for an hour before he was able to convince them who he was. "They couldn't believe anyone looking as I do could possibly afford a decent camera," said Bailey.
Curbing the Casseurs. Nowhere in Europe has law and order become as heated an issue as in France, where student disorders have been less widespread than in the U.S. but have turned to violence on several occasions. Last month, after a particularly ugly student demonstration at the Nanterre branch of the University of Paris, Premier Jacques Chaban-Delmas commented: "The wreckers must pay." The following day the Cabinet approved a draft bill for what Justice Minister René Pleven called the control of "certain new forms of delinquency."