Modern Britain

Question 1

Continuity comparing modern crime (2)

Answer 1

1. Smuggling - it’s happened for centuries but also happens with people
2. Terrorism - not new but with modern weapons, transport and communications mean more ordinary people are at risk

Question 2

Change comparing modern crime

Answer 2

Cybercrime - Examples are fraud or online theft where thousands can be targeted at once

Question 3

Timeline of new crimes (5)

Answer 3

1. 1967 - Abortion Act decriminalised abortion
2. 1967 - Sexual Offences Act decriminalised homosexuality for men over age 21
3. 1968- Race Relations Act criminalised racism
4. 2005 - Criminal Justice Act allowed more severe sentences for hate crimes
5. 2006 - Racial and Religious Hatred Act made spreading racial or religious hatred a crime

Question 4

Drug Crimes

Answer 4

1971 Misuse of Drugs Act makes taking or supplying illegal substances against the law. It’s controversial as important for some drugs to be illegal but others believe drug taking is a personal choice

Question 5

Driving Crimes (5)

Answer 5

1. Driving under influence of drugs
2. Driving without insurance, MOT or a valid driving licence
3. Speeding
4. Ignoring traffic lights
5. driving whilst using a mobile phone

Question 6

Changes in policing (3)

Answer 6

1. Motorised transport - police reach crimes faster but fewer police officers on the street
2. Armed police officers - look more like soldiers
3. Includes women and different ethnic groups

Question 7

Examples of special police units (4)

Answer 7

1. National Crime Agency (NCA) - detects and prevents serious organised crime
2. Economic Crime Unit - investigates large scale fraud
3. Police central e-crime unit (PCeU) - tackles most serious cybercrime
4. Special Branch - each local force has one which aims to prevent all forms of terrorism

Question 8

Neighbourhood Watch

Answer 8

1. Used volunteers to help prevent crime in their community. It has been met with varying degrees of success

Question 9

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) (2)

Answer 9

1. Introduced in 2002

2. Police work with schools to help protect themselves and their property

Question 10

Use of science and technology (6)

Answer 10

1. Radios
2. DNA evidence
3. CCTV
4. Computers
5. Cars, motorbikes and helicopters
6. Finger Printing

Question 11

Abolition of death penalty (2)

Answer 11

1. Reform and paying back society was considered more important
2. Controversial cases led people to question the use of capital punishment

Question 12

Controversial Death Penalty Cases (3)

Answer 12

1. 1950 Timothy Evans - hanged for murdering his wife and baby. Later evidence proved he didn’t do it
2. 1953 Derek Bentley - hanged for murdering a policeman even though he didn’t fire the gun and had serious learning disabilities
3. 1955 Ruth Ellis - hanged for murdering boyfriend after he had violently abused her for years

Question 13

Prison (5)

Answer 13

1. Different prisons catered for different prisoners
2. Prisoners released on probation - watched by probation officers and put back in prison if re-offend
3. 1948 hard labour and corporal punishment abolished
4. Separate prisons established for young people
5. Women and men’s prisons differ

Question 14

New Punishments (3)

Answer 14

1. Community sentences - working on community projects
2. Antisocial behaviour Disorders
3. Electronic Tagging

Question 15

Rehabilitation

Answer 15

Prisons attempt to reduce the re-offending rate through education and giving prisoners work that teaches them skills

Question 16

Conscientious Objectors

Answer 16

People who have religious, moral or political objections to war

Question 17

Conscription as a crime (2)

Answer 17

1. Conscription laws first introduced twice in Britain - first and second world wars
2. Conscientious Objectors were tried by tribunals who judged whether their objections were genuine

Question 18

First world war Conscientious Objectors Treatment by authorities (7)

Answer 18

1. Conscription for men from 1916
2. Clause in law excused conscientious objectors
3. 16000 men refused to fight
4. Military tribunals decided in CO was genuine
5. Only 400 given total exemption on grounds of conscience
6. Alternativists given non-combat roles
7. Absolutists imprisoned, given brutal treatment and hard labour. 10 died in prison, 63 after release and 31 had breakdowns

Question 19

Second World War Conscientious Objectors Treatment by authorities

Answer 19

1. Conscription from April 1939 for men, 1941 for women
2. Clause in law excused conscientious objectors
3. 59000 men and women refused to fight
4. Tribunals judged in CO was genuine
5. All accept 12204 given complete or partial exemption
6. Smaller percentage of those not given exemption were sent to prison

Question 20

General Public attitude towards Conscientious Objectors

Answer 20

1. Cowards and traitors
2. Some shouted at in street ad physically abused
3. Hard to get work
4. Press less harsh and fewer campaigns in second world war
5. Order of the White feather encouraged women to hand out white feathers symbolising cowardice to young men not in military uniforms

Question 21

Derek Bentley Case Summary (2)

Answer 21

1. Craig (friend) shot a police officer in the shoulder and Bentley shouted ‘let him have it’ before the shot
2. Both convicted of murder but Craig under 18 so Bentley sentenced to death by hanging

Question 22

Significance of the Bentley case (3)

Answer 22

1. Vast differences in punishments for murder
2. System of the Home Secretary reprieving murderers from hangings was a lottery
3. Increased number of people critical of the death penalty as a fair and just punishment

Question 23

Public Opinion on Bentley Case (4)

Answer 23

1. Huge public outcry
2. Motion in parliament to reprieve Bentley was supported by 200 MPs but never debated in parliament
3. Home Secretary could have reprieved Bentley but chose not to
4. Case had lots of media coverage