AC 4.2 Explain how social changes affect policy development (Updated 2022)

Drink Driving Laws

Overview: Drink driving laws have evolved significantly due to changing public attitudes and increased road safety awareness. The legal framework has progressively tightened, with key developments including the establishment of blood alcohol limits, introduction of breathalyzers, and implementation of stricter penalties and campaigns to influence public opinion.
Public Attitudes: Public perception of drink driving has shifted, with a marked increase in the view that it is unacceptable behavior. Road safety campaigns have played a crucial role in changing these perceptions, leading to a decline in drink driving incidents.
1925 Law: The first law against drink driving was passed in 1925, marking the initial legal prohibition of driving while intoxicated.
Blood Alcohol Limit: The 1967 Road Safety Act introduced the first legal blood alcohol limit, setting the threshold at 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milligrams of blood.
Breathalyzers: Breathalyzers were introduced in the 1960s, improving the detection of alcohol levels in drivers and aiding in law enforcement efforts.
High Risk Offender Scheme: Introduced in 1983, this scheme required drivers with alcohol problems or multiple drink driving convictions to undergo a medical examination before regaining their license.
Penalties: Penalties for drink driving have become increasingly severe over time, including mandatory prison sentences for causing death while driving under the influence, with sentences increasing from 5 years in 1991 to 14 years in 2014.
Advertising Campaigns: Early advertising campaigns, starting over 50 years ago, targeted high-risk groups like young males. These campaigns have been instrumental in changing public attitudes and reducing drink driving incidents.

Social Changes and Policy Development

Overview: This presentation explores how societal shifts, specifically in culture, public perception, and demographics, influence the development of policies and laws. The presentation focuses on how changes in society have led to changes in policies and laws, covering cultural changes, public perception of crime, and demographic changes.
Cultural Changes:
- Focuses on changes in societal norms, values, and attitudes.
- Discusses the decline in prejudice towards ethnic minorities.
- Mentions the impact of cultural changes on the public perception of discrimination and race-related crimes, making such offenses more likely to be criminalized.
Public Perception of Crime:
- Considers how the public's views on what constitutes a crime evolve.
- Links changes in public perception to changes in laws and policies.
- Provides an understanding of how societal changes influence the development of crime-related policies.
Demographic Changes:
- Highlights the impact of population shifts on policy development.
- Explores how changes in demographics influence the types of laws and policies needed.
- Considers how demographic shifts can affect both cultural norms and the public's perception of crime.

Race Relations Laws

Overview: Race relations laws in the UK aim to combat racial discrimination and promote equality. These laws have evolved over time, addressing various forms of discrimination in public spaces, employment, housing, and public services, alongside broader societal and cultural changes.
Race Relations Act: - The Race Relations Act of 1965 was a crucial piece of legislation. It banned racial discrimination in public spaces, aiming to address the widespread prejudice of the time. - The 1968 Act outlawed discrimination in employment, housing, and public services, expanding the scope of legal protection. - The 1976 Act strengthened the law by covering both direct and indirect discrimination.
Equality Act: - The Equality Act 2010 consolidated previous legislation. - It brought together laws on racial, sex, age, and disability discrimination.
Discrimination: - Direct Discrimination: Occurs when someone is treated less favorably because of their race, color, or ethnicity. - Indirect Discrimination: Arises when a policy or rule, though seemingly neutral, disproportionately disadvantages certain groups.
Public Perception of Discrimination: - The public perception of discrimination and race hate crimes has changed over time. - There is a greater acceptance of these offenses being criminalized. - Surveys show a decline in racial prejudice, with a majority of ethnic minorities indicating that prejudice is lower now than in the past.
Cultural Changes: - Cultural changes, including increased interaction between people of different backgrounds, have contributed to a decline in prejudice. - The increased mixing of children from different backgrounds in schools and workplaces is seen as a significant factor in improving race relations.
Demographic Changes: - Increased immigration and a more diverse population have led to a more integrated society.
Immigration and Racism: - Slum housing for immigrants and low-paid jobs due to racial discrimination were prevalent

Smoking Laws

Overview: Smoking laws have evolved over time, reflecting changing attitudes towards tobacco use and its health impacts. These laws aim to reduce smoking prevalence through advertising restrictions, public health measures, and regulations focused on protecting vulnerable populations, such as children.
Historical Context: - Smoking was once widely accepted and even encouraged, with cigarettes being glamorized and promoted in advertising. - In the 1930s, smoking was considered the norm, and doctors even endorsed it.
Health Implications: - Research in the mid-1950s confirmed the link between tobacco products and lung cancer. - The Surgeon General's 1964 report linked cigarette smoking to lung cancer and chronic bronchitis. - Health warnings on cigarette packaging and in advertisements were introduced to inform the public about the health risks of smoking.
Advertising: - Early advertising campaigns glamorized cigarettes. - The changing attitudes led to restrictive legislation on tobacco advertising and promotion. - Various advertising campaigns and advertisements over the years can be reviewed to analyze changes in perceptions.
Tobacco Advertising Promotion Act: - The Tobacco Advertising Promotion Act of 2002 banned the advertising and promotion of tobacco products. - This included restrictions on the sponsorship of sporting events.
Health Act: - The Health Act is not explicitly detailed in the provided context, but it can be assumed that it is related to laws that contributed to the declining rates of smokers.
Children and Families Act: - The Children and Families Act of 2014 enabled regulations to prohibit smoking in vehicles when children are present. - It also prohibited the sale of nicotine to those under 18 and mandated plain packaging of tobacco products.

AC 4.3 Discuss how campaigns affect policy making (Updated 2022)

Newspaper Campaigns

Overview: Newspaper campaigns leverage the influence of media outlets to raise awareness, advocate for change, and influence public opinion on specific issues or legislative reforms. These campaigns often involve collaborative efforts between individuals, organizations, and newspapers to promote their cause.
Sarah's Law (Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme):
- Campaign Objective: To establish a system for the disclosure of information about child sex offenders to protect children.
- Key Players: Sarah's parents, the News of the World newspaper. - Actions: - Launch of a petition drive to demand public access and longer sentences for convicted sex offenders. - Publication of photographs and addresses of known sex offenders. - Outcomes: The campaign led to the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme of 2011, also known as Sarah's Law.
Year and a Day Rule Act:
- This can also be used as an example of a newspaper campaign.

Campaigns and Policy Making

Overview: Campaigns aim to influence policy and law changes, requiring an understanding of objectives, involved parties, methods, impact on views, and resulting policies. Analyzing campaigns involves examining their goals, key participants, strategies for change, influence on public opinion, and the specific laws or policies they introduce.
Campaign Objectives: - Defining the campaign's goals and rationale. - Understanding why the campaign was started and its primary aims.
Key Parties Involved: - Identifying the main protagonists in the campaign. - Recognizing the key individuals, groups, or organizations leading the campaign.
Campaign Methods: - Exploring the strategies used to influence policies or laws. - Examining how the campaign sought to bring about change.
Impact on Views: - Assessing how the campaign has changed or altered opinions. - Evaluating the campaign's influence on public perception and attitudes.
Laws and Policies Introduced: - Identifying the specific laws or policies introduced as a result of the campaign. - Highlighting the real names of laws to cite them correctly.

Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme

Overview: The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, also known as Sarah's Law, aims to protect children by allowing parents to inquire about individuals who may pose a risk. This scheme enables police to disclose information about registered sex offenders to those best positioned to protect children, such as parents.
Campaign Objectives: - To protect children - Life prison terms for child killers - Public access to identifying information on registered sex offenders
Key Parties: - Sarah's Parents: Sarah and Michael. - The News of the World: A leading tabloid newspaper that supported the campaign. - Police: The authority that assesses risk and decides whether to disclose information
Methods: - Petition Drive: To demand public access to information and longer sentences for sex offenders. - Publication of Information: The News of the World published photographs and addresses of 50 known sex offenders.
Impact on Views: - The campaign received broad public support. - The publication of offenders' information ignited vigilante reprisals.
Law Details: - The law came into effect in 2011. - Allows individuals to ask the police if someone in contact with a child has a record of child sexual offense. - Police are not obligated to disclose information but will do so if they judge a child is at risk. - In the first year, 700 pedophiles were identified under the scheme. - One in seven applications were successful.

Pressure Group Campaigns

Overview: Pressure groups launch campaigns to influence policy, aiming to change laws and raise awareness on specific issues. This can involve various strategies, from direct action to lobbying, with the goal of impacting public opinion and government decisions.
Protection Against Stalking:
- Campaign Purpose: To introduce a new law specifically addressing stalking, as the existing anti-harassment law of 1997 didn't explicitly cover it.
- Context: The campaign was initiated due to the inadequacy of existing laws in protecting victims of stalking, with significant numbers of victims and cases leading to severe harm, including deaths.
- Key Parties Involved:
  - The pressure group "Protection Against Stalking"
  - A national charity working within communities to raise awareness about stalking, supporting victims, and providing resources.
  - A national consortium of specialist stalking charities for collaboration and best practices.
- Methods Used: The pressure group aimed to change policies or laws by recognizing that the existing law was unfit for purpose and needed to be changed.
- Protection of Freedoms Act 2012:
  - Outcome: Stalking was made a criminal offense.
  - Impact: Significant increase in stalking charges, demonstrating the law's effect.

Individual Campaigns

Overview: Individual campaigns leverage personal stories and advocacy to address specific issues, often influencing policy and raising public awareness. Claire's Law and Michael Gibson's case serve as prime examples of this approach.
Claire's Law (Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme): - Campaign's focus: Named after Claire Wood, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, this campaign sought to create a legal means for police to warn potential targets of abuse about their partners' violent past. - Key Supporters: Gained support from various groups, including women's groups, the media, the police, and the government. - Outcome: Led to the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme in 2014, which was piloted in 2013. The scheme was rolled out across all 43 police forces in England and Wales in 2014 - Impact: The campaign raised awareness about domestic abuse and the police's role in addressing it.
Michael Gibson's Case: - Context: This case served as an example of an individual campaign. - Purpose: The campaign aimed to create a legal means for police to warn potential targets of abuse of their partners' violent past - Support: Michael attended the House of Commons and gained support from MPs, the Association of Chiefs of Police Officers, the media, and women's groups.

Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme

Overview: The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), also known as Claire's Law, allows the police to disclose information about an individual's history of domestic violence to their partner. This scheme aims to protect potential victims by providing them with information to make informed decisions about their safety.
Campaign Objectives: - Raise the profile of domestic abuse issues. - Address the failures of the police to address domestic abuse. - Close legal loopholes related to domestic violence[3].
Key Parties: - The police - Potential victims - Other safeguarding agencies (probation service, prison, social services)
Methods: - "Right to Ask": Allows individuals to apply to the police for information about their partner's violent past. - "Right to Know": Enables the police to disclose information to protect potential victims, even without a direct request. - Public awareness campaigns. - Collaboration with safeguarding agencies
Impact on Views: - Increased awareness of domestic abuse - Widespread support from the police, government, media, and the public[3].
Law Details: - Pilot scheme introduced in 2013 in four police areas. - Rolled out across all 43 police forces in England and Wales in 2014[3]. - The police can disclose information about an individual's violent and abusive past to their partner[2]. - The police consult with safeguarding agencies to determine if disclosure is necessary to protect the person in question and decide who should receive the information[4]. - Safety plans are often set up for the potential victim[4].

Stalking Legislation

Overview: This outlines the campaign by the pressure group "Protection Against Stalking" to introduce a specific law against stalking, addressing the limitations of the 1997 anti-harassment law and the need for more comprehensive protection. The campaign's success is seen in the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, which made stalking a criminal offense.
Campaign Objectives: The primary goal was to establish a new law that specifically criminalized stalking, due to the inadequacy of the existing anti-harassment law in addressing the issue effectively. This initiative aimed to provide better protection for victims and acknowledge the severity of stalking, which in some instances, had led to severe physical harm or death.
Key Parties: - Protection Against Stalking, a national charity. - The charity raises awareness, supports victims, and offers resources. - National Consortium of specialist stalking Charities. - Police Federation - Magistrates Association
Methods: - The campaign highlighted the existing law's inadequacy. - The campaign secured amendments to legislation.
Impact on Views: - Increased awareness about stalking. - Acknowledged the need for a specific law to address stalking.
Law Details: - The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 made stalking a specific criminal offense. - The new law led to a significant increase in stalking charges, demonstrating its impact.

AC 4.2 Explain how social changes affect policy development (Updated 2022)

AC 4.3 Discuss how campaigns affect policy making (Updated 2022)

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AC 4.2 Explain how social changes affect policy development (Updated 2022)