campaigns effecting policy development

Question 1

name 3 ways a campaign may be led

Answer 1

newspaper
lone individual
pressure group

Question 2

tell me about newspaper campaigns “michael gibson case”

Answer 2

-case of Michael Gibson who was assaulted and died of a coma
-the attacker (Clark) could only be charged with GBH and was jailed for 2 years + free before Michael died
-he could not be charged for manslaughter due to the “year and a day rule”

Question 3

what was the year and a day rule

Answer 3

-1278
-if a victim of assault lived for a year and a day, attackers could not be tried for manslaughter

Question 4

how did the Northern Echo effect policy decision regarding the Year and a Day rule

Answer 4

-launched the “justice for michael” campaign
-urged readers to sign a petition for the Year and a Day rule to be scrapped
-in 1994 the local MP introduced a bill to HOC but was defeated
HOWEVER following the petition it was passed in 1996

Question 5

what is the double jeopardy law

Answer 5

-existed for 800 years
-stops people being tried again for a crime of which they have been acquitted
-prevents injustice by stopping the state persecuting someone by repeatedly re-prosecuting them
HOWEVER this can lead to miscarriages of justice if there is new evidence

Question 6

tell me about the case of Billy Dunlop, in relation to the double jeopardy law

Answer 6

-Julie Hogg was murdered in 1989 and Dunlop was charged with the crime
-after 2 juries failed to reach a verdict, Dunlop was acquitted
-in 1989, Dunlop was jailed for a savage attack, while in prison he admitted to an officer that he murdered Julie
-officer reported this however no action could be taken due to the double jeopardy law

Question 7

which campaign led to the abolishment of the double jeopardy law

Answer 7

Ann Mings campaign

Question 8

tell me about ann mings campaign + the result

Answer 8

-to change law
-used lobbying, media + tv to raise awareness
-2003 Criminal Justice Act was the result of campaign which permitted serious crimes to be re-tried if there is new and compelling evidence

Question 9

tell me about pressure groups involvement in protection against stalking

Answer 9

-1997 anti-harassment law did not refer to stalking
In -2011 PAS launched a campaign to introduce a new law making stalking a specific offence
-set up an independent parliamentary inquiry, persuading MPs to serve on it
-inquiry heard about the fear, psychological and physical harm from stalkers
-evidence from lawyers, police and probation
SUCCESS: Protection of Freedoms Act in April 2012 made stalking a criminal offence