Crime + the Law: Ineffectiveness of Government Responses

Question 1

Abusive Behaviour + Sexual Harm Act

Answer 1

• In 2017, the Scottish Government introduced a bill which provided a new offence for the non-consensual sharing of private, intimate images - often called revenge porn
• ineffective because reports of “revenge porn” had risen from 411 offences in 2017/18 to 596 offences in 2018/19

Question 2

No Knives Better Lives

Answer 2

• aims to stop young people from carrying knives + was introduced in 2009 as a response to the high number of incidents involving knives
• ineffective because there continues to be stabbings in Scotland, such as the stabbing of a 14 year old boy who was stabbed in Glasgow, October 2021

Question 3

Violence Reduction Unit

Answer 3

• founded in 2005 after murder rates had risen significantly + is an organisation which works closely with the police to tackle violence
• ineffective because there was a drive by murder of gang members in Glasgow’s Maryhill in 2018

Question 4

stricter alcohol laws

Answer 4

• in 2014 the drink driving limit was cut from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood
• ineffective because in recent years the government has found that the number of traffic incidents related to being under the influence has remained the same