4.3 - Discuss how campaigns affect policy making Flashcards
Newspaper campaigns - Sarah’s Law
- Aim: Change the law so parents/carers have access to information about paedophiles living locally
- Driving force: Sarah abducted & murdered by Roy Whiting, a previously convicted sex offender
News of the World & Sarah’s Law
July 2000 - named & shamed 50 claimed paedophiles, continued to do so until every one in Britain was named, backed by parents
Success of Sarah’s Law
Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme introduced in E&W 2011 (however, police are not obliged to disclose information)
Individual campaigns - Clare’s Law
- Aim: Change the law to enable women to know about a partner’s violent past
- Driving force: Clare Wood beated, raped, strangled & set on fire by ex-boyfriend who had been harassing her -> unaware of his previous convictions, Clare had made multiple complaints about Appleton but police did nothing
Methods of Clare’s Law
Aided by Michelle Liversey - chief reported at Radio Key 103 - gathering evidence with Michael Wood, organising petitions, winning support from charities & media for change in law
Success of Clare’s Law
Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme 2013 - the right to ask (public ask for information) & the right to know (police disclose to protect without being asked to)
Not obliged to disclose & will converse with other safeguarding agencies to decide if necessary, differences in police forces (knowledge & training) means less disclosed information
Pressure group campaigns - Protection Against Stalking
- Aim: Existing law not fit for purpose & set up an independent parliamentary inquiry
- Driving force: Stalking should be a serious offense -> lead to physical attacks & some deaths
Methods of PAS
Evidence from victims & relatives, academic experts, lawyers & police. Detailed intimidation, fear, psychological & physical harm inflicted by stalkers & the inadequate response of the authorities
Success of PAS
Inquiry report publish 2012, supported by 60 MPs
Amendment to a bill (Protection of Freedoms Act) which made stalking a criminal offense
Newspaper campaigns - The Year & a Day Rule
- Aim: Change the law stating that if victims of an assault lived for a year and a day after their attack but died after that from the injuries, the attacker couldn’t be tried for manslaughter/murder
- Driving force: Michael Gibson assaulted & left comatose for 22 months, attacker only charged with GBH and was free before Michael’s death
Northern Echo & Year and a Day
Justice for Michael campaign launched urging readers to sign a petition to scrap the rule, published comatosed Michael on front page (pathos)
Success of Year and a Day
1996 Law Reform Act abolished the rule following the petition
Individual campaigns - Justice for Julie
- Aim: Change the double jeopardy law (being tried for the same crime again)
- Driving force: Murder of Julie Hogg by Billy Dunlop who could not be charged for murder due to previous violent convictions against women despite his confession
Methods of Justice for Julie
Newspapers, TV & radio, speech in the House of Lords
Success of Justice for Julie
Overturned the law & convicted Billy Dunlop, Criminal Justice Act 2003 -> retrials allowed with new & compelling evidence - lead to 13 secure convictions
