4.2 - Explain how social changes affect policy development Flashcards
Mores
Basic & essential norms society deems vital for maintaining standards of decency (most important moral rules) -> e.g taboo against incest, prohibition against murder
Public perception of crime
Drink driving
How views of drink driving have changed
- Come to be seen as serious & laws governing have become tighter
- Increased deaths -> increased concern (5000 in 1950, 8000 by 60s)
Laws about drink driving
1966 - all cars had to be fitted with seat belts
1967 Road Safety Act - blood alcohol limit of 80mg/100ml (an offence to drive above this limit)
1968 - breathalysers introduced
1983 - High Risk Offender scheme for convicted drivers with alcohol problems
1991 - prison sentences of 5 years if death caused by drink driving (increased to 14 years in 2014)
Results of drink driving perception changing
Breathalysers + advert campaigns = reduced road deaths by 1100+ & serious injuries by 11000+
Proportion of accidents involving alcohol fell by 10%
Penalty of 6 months imprisonment, unlimited fine & driving ban of 1 year
1979 - 1640 deaths, 2016 - 230
Demographic changes
Immigration & racism
How race demographics changed in UK
1945 - fewer than 20,000 non-white residents
1950s & 60s - immigrants from former British colonies came to UK
The Windrush generation
Early ethnic minority arrivals in 50s & 60s
Initially faced hostility, exploited by landlords when letting slum housing to immigrants, could only get low pay low skilled jobs, faced with discrimination in housing & employment & services
Race Relations Act 1965
Banned racial discrimination in public places & made promotion of hatred on grounds of ‘colour, race or ethnic or national origins’ an offence (followed by 1968 outlaw of discrimination in employment)
Race Relations Act 1976
Replaced previous acts & covered direct (treated less favourably) + indirect (a rule applying to everyone but has worse effect on certain groups) discrimination
-> followed by 2010 Equality Act
Cultural change (Immigration & Racism)
Decline in prejudice towards ethnic minorities (39% in 1987, 26% in 2017), people are more likely to accept hate & discrimination as crimes
Cultural changes
LGBTQ+ Rights
Views on LGBTQ+
Before 60s: condemned as immoral/sinful & severely punished by law (Buggery Act 1533 - punishable by death), abolished death penalty for sodomy 1861 but Act of 1855 extended laws to include sexual activity between males
Decriminalisation of LGBTQ+
Prosecution of high profile individuals led to an outcry & Wolfenden established a committee where the report recommended decriminalising sexual activity in private between males over 21 (1967)
Changing norms & values surrounding LGBTQ+
Belief now that consenting adults have the rights to choose what/who they want to be in private & police/courts have no business in it (individualism, equal rights & secularisation)
