AC 4.3 How Campaigns Affect Policy Making

• Sarah's Law


  Campaign to have information about known sex offenders made available to the public
• Sarah's Law - Explain What It Was About

  1. In 2000 Sarah Payne was abducted and murdered by Roy Whiting, who had a previous conviction for kidnapping and indecent assault

  2. Sarah's parents started a campaign for a change in the law

  3. The News of the World supported the campaign and published names and pictures of 50 people they claimed to be sex offenders
• (Sarah) Despite the setback of the government refusing to agree to the demands

  The newspaper and Sarah's parents continued with their campaign
• (Sarah) How It Changed/Altered People's Views

  The government began to change its mind and sent a minister to the USA to see the workings of Megan Law
• (Sarah) The Actual Law or Policies It Introduced

  1. In 2008 a pilot scheme was introduced in 4 areas of the UK to allow parents to make enquiries about named individuals

  2. In 2011 the scheme was extended to cover the whole of England and Wales, known as the Child sex Offenders Disclosure scheme
• This Year And A Day Rule

  A law dating back to 1278 that said if victims of an assault lived for a year and a day, their attackers could not be tried for manslaughter or murder
• Year and a Day - Explain What It Was About

  Michael Gibson was assaulted in 1992 and died after being in a coma for 22 months, but his attacker could only be charged with GBH due to the year and a day rule
• (Y&D) The imagery of Michael in a hospital bed in a coma

  Stimulated empathy with the readers and the need to do something about this terrible event
• (Y&D) The Actual Law or Policies It Introduced

  1. In 1994 a bill was introduced to scrap the year and a day rule, but it was narrowly defeated

  2. However, following the delivery of the Northern Echo's petition, a bill was passed by Parliament to become the 1996 Law Reform (Year and a day) Act
• The newspaper's role was vital in achieving success by mobilising public support
• Ann Mings Double Jeopardy


  Campaign led by a mother whose daughter had been killed, to change the law that stopped people being tried again for a crime of which they had been acquitted
• Ann Mings brought widespread attention to this 800 year old law


  And the injustice that it presented in certain circumstances
• (Ann Mings) The Actual Law or Policies It Introduced

  The 2003 Criminal Justice Act permitted serious crimes to be retried if new and compelling evidence emerged and the DPP gave the go ahead
• Clare's Law


  Campaign to enable women to know about their partners' violent past
• Clare's Law - What The Campaign Was About

  In 2009 Clare Wood was killed by her ex-partner George Appleton, who had a history of violence against women that Clare was unaware of
• The general public, celebrities and politicians became aware of the dangers that existed for women with violent men


  And the need to address this issue and ensure the safety of women
• (Clare) The Actual Law or Policies It Introduced

  In 2013 the government introduced a pilot scheme called the Domestic violence disclosure scheme, which was rolled out across England and Wales in 2014
• Bobby Turnbull Anti Gun

  Campaign to change the gun laws after Bobby's mother, sister and aunt were killed by a man with a history of domestic violence who legally owned firearms
• (Bobby) How It Tried To Change Policies/Laws

  Bobby Turnbull launched a petition, appeared in the media, and lobbied MPs for changes to the gun laws
• (Bobby) The Actual Law or Policies It Introduced/Changed

  Amendments to the Firearms Act 1968 prevented anyone with a suspended sentence of 3 months or more from purchasing or possessing a firearm, and required a police review of firearms certificates after any domestic violence incident
• British Lung Foundation


  Pressure group that campaigns to prevent lung disease, including a campaign for a ban on smoking in cars with children
• (BLF) How It Tried To Change Policies/Laws

  BLF secured 50,000 signatures on a petition in 2011, produced research on the effects of secondhand smoke, and got support from other pressure groups and the public to lobby MPs
• (BLF) The Actual Law It Introduced/Changed

  A ban on smoking in cars with children came into force in England and Wales in 2014, introduced by the Children and Families Act
• Protection Against Stalking


  Campaign to introduce a new law making stalking a specific offence, as the existing 1997 anti-harassment law did not specifically refer to stalking
• (PAS) How It Tried To Change The Law/Policy

  The campaigners used various methods including creating a 'National Stalking Awareness Week', gaining support from high-profile individuals and organisations, and setting up an independent parliamentary inquiry
• (PAS) The Actual Law or Policy That Was Introduced

  The Protection of Freedoms Act in 2012 made stalking a criminal offence, following the successful campaign and inquiry