social changes and policy development

• public perception of crime:

  • drink driving =now sen as serious and reflected laws such as the 1967 road act
  • drink driving campaigns = THINK and Brake
  • smoking = now seen as undesirable. laws such as children and families act 2014 prohibits smoking in vehicles when children are present
  • anti smoking campaigns = action on smoking and health
• LGBT rights:

  • before 1960s = same sex activity is criminal
  • 1967 = decriminalisation gay sex
  • changing values = individualism, equal rights and secularisation
  • further legal changes = 2014 equal marriage, 2005 civil partnership and 1994 equal age consent
• transgender rights:

  • norms = no longer seen as medical issue. more acceptance
  • laws = 2004 gender recognition act. people can change gender with evidence from gender recognition panel
• demographic change:

  • immigration = British society became much more diverse when people immigrated from British Colonies
  • decriminalisation = immigrants often suffered decriminalisation in housing and employment
  • equality act 2010 = brought together laws on all kinds of discrimination
  • cultural changes = since 1960s decline in prejudice towards ethnic minorities perhaps due to change in laws or due to more socialisation
  • perception of crime = discrimination and race hate crimes are now seen as a criminal offence. people are more likely to accept these as criminal offences now
• race relations act 1976:

  • 1965 = made race discrimination in public an offence
  • 1968 = made discrimination in employment, housing and public services an offence
  • 1976 = covers direct and indirect discrimination