influences on law reform

what is the law commission?

set up in 1965 to consider law reform - full time body instrumental in bringing about change to law

what are examples of reform brought about by the law commission?

coroners and justice act 2009
crime and courts act 2013

what is the criminal law revision committee?

part time and not called together since 1985

what are some examples of the successes by the criminal law revision committee?

criminal law act 1967
theft acts 1968 and 78

what are pressure groups?

groups which have a particular interest. they try to bring matters they find interesting to the government/public’s attention

what are the 2 types of pressure groups?

interest and cause

what are interest pressure groups?

represent the interests of a particular group - often workers, employers, consumers

what is an example of an interest pressure group?

law society

what are cause pressure groups?

promote a particular cause - charity, education

what are examples of cause pressure groups?

greenpeace, RSPB

what is lobbying?

persuading MPs to support a pressure group’s cause 

what are public inquiries?

set up in response to a significant event and examine options for changing the law due to failing govt. or current law

what are examples of public inquiries?

stephen lawrence inquiry: concluded the metropolitan police had been institutionally racist in its handling of the murder
bloody sunday inquiry: british soldiers shot dead unarmed/injured civilians in ireland

what is media?

the ways in which information is supplied to the public (newspapers, TV)

what is an example of media bringing about law reform?

anti-terrorism , crime and security act 2001 after the 9/11

what is parliamentary change?

lots of legislation reflects political ideas of govt in power when an act is passed 

what are the 4 ways that parliamentary change can happen?

repeal, creation, consolidation, codification

what is precedent (judiciary) as an influence on law reform?

case law can bring about some reform through development of judicial precedent

what are examples of the judiciary bringing about law reform?

statutory instruments, human rights act 1998

what is the ECHR?

european convention o human rights

what is the ECHR as an influence on law reform?

changes prompted by the requirements of the ECHR can encourage parliamentary law reform

what is an example of law reform by the ECHR?

goodwin v UK (2002) - illustrated inequalitites in the law regarding transexual rights. resulted in a hearing in the ECtHR. UK parliament passed gender recognition act 2004

what is the royal commissions?

formed to investigate and suggest reform in particular areas of the law. called to look into matters of importance or controversy

what are examples of law reform by the royal commissions?

runciman commission examined english system of criminal justice and created criminal cases review commission to investigate miscarriages of justice
benson commission examined legal profession and led to the passing of the court and legal services act 1990