AC4.3

Question 1

Media campaign - Sarah’s law

Answer 1

• aimed to reduce the risk of children being exposed to sex offenders
• started due to abduction/murder of 8 year old Sarah Payne in 2000 by Roy Whiting who had past convictions
• News of the World supported the parents campaign
  -ran a petition to support new law
  -name and shamed 50 offenders
• campaing was successful, leading to Child Sex Offenders Disclosure Scheme in 2011
  -allowed parents to ask police if a convicted sex offender has contact with a specific child

Question 2

Media campaign - Year and a day rule

Answer 2

• aimed to scrap the year and a day rule from 1278, attackers can’t stand trial for murder if the victim lives for 366 days
• started due to assault of Michael Gibson in 1922, who died after 16 month coma
  -David Clarke jailed for 2 years
• Northern Echo newspaper supported mother pat’s campaign, launching ‘justice for michael’ campaign
  -petition to scrap law
  -picture of coma on front page
  resulted in 1000s of signatures
• Petition lead to parliament scrapping law in 1996, after a failed attempt in 1994