4.3 - Pressure Groups Campaign Flashcards
What are pressure groups
Organizations that attempt to influence government policy’s
How do they influence government policies?
Through gaining public support and by persuading politicians
Name some examples of campaigns that had pressure groups to persuade/influence policy
Protection against Stalking (PAS)
Howard League for Penal Reform (HLPR)
Stone Wall
British Lung Foundation
Outline Howard League Penal Reform’s campaign.
HLPR is the oldest penal reform charity in the UK (established in 1866)
It aims in reducing crime, having fewer people in prison/prison reform as well as reducing child arrests
Has Howard League Penal Reform been successful and how?
Yes
There work on REDUCING child arrests has been successful. Since starting this aim in 2010 there was a 71% reduction in child arrests between 2010-2019
In 2003, HL argued that the 1989 Child Act should apply to Children in custody as well. They got their demand as children were then given welfare/support both in and out of custody
Outline Protection Against Stalking campaign
PAS launched their campaign in 2011
To introduce new law making around stalking as the 1997 harassments law didn’t outline stalking
Due to stalking’s dangerous effects and having approx. 120,000 victims
PAS argued that the existing law was inadequate and gained support from Napo & the probation officer’s union to set up an independent parliament alongside MP to listen
Was PAS successful and how so?
Yes
The independent inquiry gained support from 60 MPs and the Police Federation and the Magistrates Association
This resulted in the amendment to the bill which resulted in the Protection of Freedoms Act in 2012 - making it a criminal offence
PAS was successful through gaining support from MPs and other groups and political parties
Outline Stonewall Campaign
Stonewall is a campaign that aims to bring change to the lives of LGBTQ+ through the changing of public opinion and policy
such as:
Ending section 28 in England, Wales & Scotland
The right for same-sex couples to have civil partnership
An equal age of consent for gay and bi men
Has Stonewall been a success, how so?
Yes
Scotland repealed the Section 28 law in 2000 through Stonewall’s campaigning as they highlighted through ‘Caused by the Clause’ research the impacts that Section 28 had on the LGBTQ people - changing public attitudes and leading to its overturning
Stonewall successfully altered the age of consent law for gay/bi men bringing it down to the age of 16 (like hetro) through the backing of 3 men in 1993 - advocating it was a breach of human rights resulting in a change in 1994 to 18 and 16 to 2008
