AC4.3 Flashcards
newspaper campaigns
They can play an important role in policy making especially through campaigning to change a law.
You need to know examples that show how newspapers can help shape the law by mobilising public opinion so the government takes action.
Examples you need to know - sarah’s law and the year and a day rule
sarah’s law - the news of the worlds role
This was central to the campaigns success.
In 2000 they named and shamed 50 people that were paedophiles.
The paper said that they would continue until all paedophiles in Britain were revealed
This led to the campaign eventually succeeding
sarah’s law - how it changed views
When another girl was kidnapped and sexually assaulted the government began to change their mind.
A minister was sent to the USA to look at Megan’s law and how it worked (a policy to allow parents to access information about paedophiles in their area)
sarah’s law - the child sex offender disclosure scheme
In 2008, a pilot scheme was carried out for 4 years in parts of the UK
This was successful so now anyone can ask the police for information about convictions in regards to child sex offences.
The police aren’t obliged to give information out, they may judge if the child is at risk of harm and inform if necessary
the year and a day rule
Michael Gibson was assaulted and went into a coma for 22 months.
The offender could only be charged with GBH and only got 2 years in prison.
At the time the year and a day rule existed
This rule said that if the victim of the assault lived for a year and a day then their attackers couldn’t be tried for murder or manslaughter.
the year and a day rule - the northern echo’s role
His mother fought to change the law.
Newspaper launched “justice for Michael” urging readers to sign to get rid of the rule.
In 1994, the local MP (Alan Milburn) introduced the bill into the house of common but this was denied at first.
But then in 1996 the bill was passed and it became the 1996 law reform act after the northern echo’s petition launched
Individual campaigns to affect policy making
Many campaigns that are later helped by newspapers, politicians etc but started by an individual who wanted to take action themselves to change a policy.
Examples you need to know - clare’s law and changing the double jeopardy law
clare’s law
In 2009 clare wood was beaten, raped, strangled and then had her body set on fire.
Her murderer was her ex, George Appleton.
Her ex had a past history of violence against women.
Her father had found out that clare had been to the police several times about her ex harassing her, threatening to kill her and trying to rape her but the police took no action.
Her father launched the campaign to allow women to know about their partners violent past.
clare’s law - the domestic violence disclosure scheme
In 2013 the police introduced a pilot study in 4 police areas.
In 2014 the scheme was rolled out across all 43 forces.
It is made up of 2 parts - the right to ask and the right to know
The right to ask - member of the public can ask the police to disclose information about someone’s partner or their own.
The right to know - allows police to disclose information to protect a potential victim.
The police aren’t obliged to give information so may meet with other safeguarding agencies to decide whether information should be disclosed to the person.
clare’s law - operation of the scheme
They’re have been many disclosures.
In 2018, 6496 requests were made but only 2575 (40%) were granted.
Differences between police forces affect whether the information is granted
E.g. cumbria granted 96% but bedfordshire only granted 7%
Changing the double jeopardy law
Stops people being able to be tried for the same crime twice
This prevents injustice by stopping the state persecuting someone by repeatedly re-prosecuting them until they secure a conviction
This can lead to injustice if someone is found to be guilty due to new evidence but they cannot be tried again.
Ann mings campaign
Ann’s daughter (Julie Hogg) was murdered on 1989 but after 2 juries they failed to reach a verdict so the case was dropped.
In 1998 the killer was imprisoned for an attack but whilst in prison he admitted to a guard that he killed Julie.
Dunlop got 6 years for lying under oath but couldn’t be done for the murder itself.
Ann Ming campaigned to change the law
The 2003 criminal justice act was the result of her campaign.
It permitted certain serious crimes to be retried e.g., murder, rape, kidnapping and armed robbery
A retrial can only take place if new evidence emerges.
Only one retrial is permitted.
The Stephen Lawrence case
Police mishandled the case and resulted in a failed prosecution for Stephens murder in 1993.
But new DNA evidence emerged to link one off the suspects to the killing.
The suspect was retried and convicted of the murder, along with another suspect
Pressure group campaigns to affect policy making
Pressure groups are organisations that try to influence government politics in the interests of a particular case.
Play an important role in policy making by gaining public support for change and persuading politicians that make the law to change it
protection against stalking
In 2001 protection against stalking (PAS) launched a campaign to introduce a new law to make stalking a specific offence.
In some cases stalking leads to physical harm or death.
e.g., Clare Bernal was shot dead by her stalker in 2005 whilst on her way to work.
