An overview of law reform with details on what leads to it and how it's done. The revision notes include information on the Law Commission and its roles which will be useful for the 8 markers in paper 2. Also examples of cases are included to widen the understanding and make sure that you achieve t...
LAW REFORM
What contributes to law reform?
• Parliamentary System- this includes over 640 MPs who examine and vote on
legislations.
• Judges- should in theory remain neutral/objective. Their decisions have an impact on
the general public, organisations, government departments etc.
• Public opinion/Pressure groups- For example animal rights activists on banning fox
hunting, Green Peace, Friends of the Earth on environmental damage and specialist
groups such as Fathers4Justice or Liberty.
• General public – mixed views and conflicting interests attract the attention of the
Parliament on reforming the law.
• Media – it’s very powerful in raising support for certain causes or creating
destruction for others.
• Other bodies- charities, churches, big businesses, welfare organisations (Trade
Unions), consumer groups or dedicated individuals.
Examples:
Sarah’s Law
Sarah was abducted, sexually assaulted and
murdered by an already convicted paedophile
Roy Whiting. Her mother Sara Payne
campaigned for a change in the UK law, to
allow parents/guardians to know if a
registered sex offender or dangerous person
lived nearby. The Child Sex Offender Scheme
set up proved successful, as announced by the
Home Office, in protecting 60 children.
Dangerous Dogs Act 1991:
The Act was introduced by the Secretary
Kenneth Baker, as a result of 11 horrific dog
attacks in 1991. It banned 4 types of dogs
but was very controversial as it failed to
control the rise of dog attacks, because it
focused too much on the dog’s looks rather
than its behaviour. In 2006 local authorities
Tony Martin- Self Defence at home:
were allowed to ban dogs from certain
On August 20th, 1999, Freddie Barras (16) and
public spaces.
Brendan Fearon (30) broke into Tony’s isolated
farm. Martin shot both intruders killing Barras.
His plea of self-defence was rejected, and he
was convicted of murder. However late on his
conviction was quashed to manslaughter, as he
appealed on the grounds of his personality
disorder. His case split the nation over the
rights of homeowners and the extent they
could go to defend themselves.
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