Pressure Group campaigns

• What were 2 pressure groups which have affected laws?


  Fathers 4 justice

  Protection against stalking
• Where did the fathers 4 justice campaign originate from?


  founded by Matt O’Connor in 2001 after he was denied access to his 2 boys following a difficult divorce.
• What methods does fathers 4 justice use?


  Mostly dress up as superhero’s and climb up buildings

  Do a lot of protests to try and rally support

  Have a blog where they keep supporters updated
• What is fathers 4 justice mission statement

  (6)

  End Fatherlessness

  All children have a meaningful, loving relationship with their fathers

  Ensure all fathers have a legal 50/50 shared parenting

  To protect children, fathers, grandparents from cruel degrading treatments leading to forced separation in court

  end demonisation and denigration of men and boys in society

  engage in radical reform of entire family justice - new bill of rights and responsibilities for families
• Was fathers 4 justice campaign successful?

  A new legislation came under force in 2013 that Judges must ensure fathers are given a legal right to spend time to develop meaningful relationships with their children
• Where did the protection against stalking campaign originate from?

  Introduce a new law making stalking a specific offence

  The existing 1997 anti- harassment law never made stalking illegal - only had 70 prosecutions

  Stalking leads to physical attacks which can end in death

  Claire Bernal was shot dead by her attacker in 2005

  Police deal with stalking inadequately, as they lack a policy and investigation usually left to individual officers
• Was the protection against stalking campaign successful?


  Inquiry report was published in Feb 2012 with support from 60 MP’s

  Able to get support from MP’s to include amendment to a bill - led to protection of freedoms act 2012- stalking make a criminal offence
• How was the protection against stalking campaign successful?


  allowed voices of victims to be heard

  support from a wide range of organisations

  campaign kept in public eye

  gained support from national parties
• What did protection against stalking campaign do?


  set up an independent parliamentary inquiry persuading MP’s to serve on it.

  • lasted several months, hearing evidence from victims, relatives and lawyers
  • heard about intimidation, fear and psychological and physical harm stalkers inflict