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Scientology: Close watch by police

Title: Scientology: Close watch by police
Date: Tuesday, 6 August 1968
Publisher: Evening News (Edinburgh)
Main source: link (62 KiB)

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Edinburgh City Police are "keeping an eye" on the activities in the city of Scientology, Deputy Chief Constable Robert Campbell said today.

"We are interested in the Scientology Organisation, and we are alive to what is happening," said Mr Campbell.

"The police are keeping an eye on things, and any information that we get from any source, we will note.

"We have lots of information and intelligence about various organisations in the city . . . and so it is with this particular one."

Mr Campbell said the police were "looking into" a complaint made by Councillor Rupert Speyer regarding letters received by a 15-year-old girl who was employed for five weeks by The Scientologists' Publications Organisation World Wide at North-East Thistle Street Lane.

The "Evening News" published the story of the girl, Kathleen Riley (15), of 31 Niddrie Marischal Place, Edinburgh.

Yesterday, Councillor Speyer said Kathleen had received 20 letters through the post which, she claimed were from former workmates. In the envelopes were slips of paper saying: "I disconnect with Kathleen Riley."

Councillor Speyer said today that Kathleen had not received any more letters. Kathleen is now employed by Councillor Speyer and his wife at their dress shop in Shandwick Place.

HALL LETS

Councillor Speyer said he was going to keep at watch on the situation and was considering seeking support to requisition a special meeting of the Town Council to discuss the position.

He said he would oppose the let of any Corporation halls or schools to Scientologists for holding meetings if they should apply.

A request from the Hubbard Academy of Personal Independence, of Queen Street, Edinburgh, for the use of the McLellan Galleries, Glasgow, for a public meeting on Scientology has been turned down by a sub-committee of Glasgow Corporation.

INSTRUCTIONS

The Department of Employment and Productivity said in Edinburgh today that they were still not sending people to vacancies at Scientology organisations.

"We have referred the matter to our London headquarters, and will probably be receiving instructions within the next few days," a spokesman said.

The Home Office official confirmed today that foreign students of the cult in Britain are being told to leave.

"Students here for short terms are being told to leave before the end of August, and those who have been here for longer periods are being given two months to settle their affairs and depart," she said.

This decision has been taken following the Health Minister's statement of ten days ago.