Criminology - U2 - AC4.3 - Individual Campaigns

Clare’s Law – Campaign Initiation

Clare’s father, Michael, launched a campaign to change the law, enabling women to find out if their partners had violent pasts. He worked for four years gathering evidence, organizing petitions, and gaining support from charities, politicians, and media.

Clare’s Law – Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS)

The government introduced a pilot scheme in 2013 across 4 police areas; by 2014 it was rolled out across all 43 police forces in England and Wales to provide safety by sharing offenders' histories.

Clare’s Law – Right to Ask

Allows any member of the public to request information from the police about their own partner or someone else’s partner’s previous violent or abusive offenses.

Clare’s Law – Right to Know

Police can proactively disclose information without a request if they believe it is necessary to protect a potential victim from harm.

Clare’s Law – Scheme Operation

By 2018, there were 6,496 Right to Ask requests, with 2,575 (40%) granted. However, disclosure rates differ widely depending on police force commitment.

Clare’s Law – Police Variation Example

For example, Bedfordshire Police disclosed information in only 7% of cases, while Cumbria Police had a 96% disclosure rate.

Ann Ming – Campaign Background

After her daughter Julie Hogg was murdered in 1989, and the accused was acquitted twice due to the double jeopardy rule, Ann Ming vowed to change the law to allow retrials in serious cases.

Double Jeopardy – Legal Principle

An ancient rule preventing someone from being tried twice for the same crime, which sometimes led to injustice by stopping retrials despite new evidence.

Double Jeopardy – Case Example

Billy Dunlop was acquitted of Julie Hogg’s murder but later confessed in 1998; however, no legal action could be taken under the old law.

Ann Ming – Law Change Campaign

She used media campaigns, lobbying politicians, and public pressure to push for a change in the law regarding double jeopardy.

Criminal Justice Act 2003

The act allows retrials for serious crimes like murder when new and compelling evidence emerges. Dunlop was the first person convicted under this new legislation.