Media and public opinion

• An example of when the media and public opinion can influence law reform is the restriction of gun usage due to the snowdrop campaign
• An example of when the media and public opinion can be helpful towards law reform is when media pressure helped secure a judicial inquiry into the handling of the killing of Steven Lawrence
• An example of when the media and public opinion can be problematic towards law reform is with the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 which came into force after serval high profile dog attacks (a dogs muzzle had to be taken off as it needed to be sick but the police didnt care why just said it needed to be put down)