How social changes have affected policy developmeny

Question 1

what’s one way social change can affect policy development?

Answer 1

the public perception of crime changing over time

Question 2

elaborate on what it means by the public perception of crime changing over time?

Answer 2

Over time, society evolves and opinions and values change in relation to certain behaviours. This is sometimes as a result of better education or scientific developments.

Question 3

what’s a example of a policy which changed from the perception of crime changing?

Answer 3

Smoking
As in the 1930s smoking was generally a norm
However with the development of health campaigns and the rise in public awareness of the health implications this changed
In 2006 The Health Act was introduced
In 2014 a ban on smoking in cars with children under 18 was made

Question 4

whats another way social change has affected policy development (begins with C)

Answer 4

cultural changes

Question 5

how can cultural changes affect policy development?

Answer 5

Norms and values change between cultures, due to differences in religion and traditional beliefs. This can affect public perceptions and policy making.

Question 6

what’s a example of a policy which changed from cultural changes

Answer 6

homosexuality
Used to be illegal within the UK
Attitudes changed and perceptions became more moral
Was decriminalised in 1967
The same sex marriage act 2013 was introduced

Question 7

what’s another way social change has affected policy development (hint: Windrush)

Answer 7

demographic changes

Question 8

how are demographics used?

Answer 8

Demographics are used by the Government, Criminal Justice System and Criminologist to study the public’s structure. This could include Ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation etc.

Question 9

what’s a example of a policy which changed from demographics?
(remember 1945,1950,1960)

Answer 9

THE WINDRUSH GENERATION
In 1945 there was fewer than 20000 non white residents, in the present day this is now 19 million.
This originally stemmed from the Windrush generation in the 1950/1960s where the first black Caribbean immigrant came to the UK
They were faced with discrimination which ultimately created the race relations act
This criminalised discrimination both direct and indirect
It further evolved in 2010 to the equality act