Criminology957 views·Updated Jun 26, 2026·2 pages

Introduction to Criminology: Unit 1, Key Insights 2.1

Jessica Blackhurst@essicalackhurst_sbvp

Ever wondered how ordinary people can actually change the law?...

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Ac 2.1;
Compare campaigns for change:

Sarahs law campaign:
- Campaign started to change the law on convicted sex offenders/ paedophiles lif

Sarah's Law and Clare's Law: Protecting Families Through Information

Sarah's Law transformed how we protect children from sex offenders after 8-year-old Sarah Payne was murdered. Her mum, Sara Payne, fought tirelessly to create a system where parents can ask police if someone around their child has a history of sexual offences. The campaign wasn't without controversy - some worried about vigilante attacks on innocent people who resembled published offenders.

The News of the World newspaper became a crucial ally, running petitions and keeping the story in public view. This media attention proved essential for building the widespread support needed for legal change. Sara Payne's determination paid off when the disclosure scheme became law across England and Wales, and she was awarded an MBE in 2008.

Clare's Law followed a similar pattern but focused on domestic violence disclosure. After Clare Wood was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, her father Michael Brown campaigned for a scheme allowing people to check their partner's history of domestic abuse. Introduced in 2014, this law has already helped over 1,300 women in its first year.

Key Point: Both campaigns succeeded because they combined personal tragedy with media support and clear, practical solutions that politicians could implement.

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Harper's Law and Right to Die: Modern Legal Battles

Harper's Law shows how quickly public opinion can drive legal change in the digital age. When PC Andrew Harper was killed by teenage thieves in Berkshire, his widow Lissie Harper launched an online campaign demanding mandatory life sentences for anyone who kills emergency service workers. The campaign's success was remarkable - 600,000 online signatures and appearances on programmes like Good Morning Britain led to the law receiving royal assent in 2022.

Debbie Purdy's right to die campaign tackled a much more complex issue. Suffering from multiple sclerosis, she wanted clarity on whether her husband would face prosecution if he helped her travel abroad for assisted suicide. Her 2009 House of Lords victory didn't change the law directly but forced clearer guidelines about when prosecution would occur.

The Dignity in Dying organisation supports Purdy's broader mission but with strict limits - they only campaign for terminally ill, mentally competent adults, not general euthanasia or assisted suicide for healthy people. With 84% public support for assisted dying in terminal cases, this remains an active area of legal debate.

Important: These campaigns show that successful legal reform requires clear objectives, public support, and often years of persistent campaigning through multiple channels.

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Criminology957 views·Updated Jun 26, 2026·2 pages

Introduction to Criminology: Unit 1, Key Insights 2.1

Jessica Blackhurst@essicalackhurst_sbvp

Add to Google sources

Ever wondered how ordinary people can actually change the law? These four powerful campaigns show how tragedy can spark legal reform that protects others. From protecting children to safeguarding domestic abuse victims, these stories prove that determined individuals can reshape...

of 2

Sarah's Law and Clare's Law: Protecting Families Through Information

Key Point: Both campaigns succeeded because they combined personal tragedy with media support and clear, practical solutions that politicians could implement.

of 2

Harper's Law and Right to Die: Modern Legal Battles

Important: These campaigns show that successful legal reform requires clear objectives, public support, and often years of persistent campaigning through multiple channels.