This is a recurring exam question and it might appear on the paper this year.

Please note:

• The question includes a specific date – you must only use examples after 1900.
• It would be best to approach this as a two-sided argument.
• Try to comment on the nature and extent of the changes.

New Crimes since 1900

Smoking in enclosed public places was banned in England from 1 July 2007: The Health Act 2006. The ban covers virtually all enclosed public places including offices, factories, pubs and bars, but not outdoors or in private homes and appropriate signs had to be displayed. Under the Health Act, “substantially enclosed” means premises or structures with a ceiling or roof (including retractable structures such as awnings) and where there are permanent openings, other than windows or doors, which in total are less than half of the area of the walls. So, for example, bus stops can be required to be smoke-free if the shelter is substantially enclosed. The law also applies to workplace vehicles which are used by more than one person at any time.

Ministers said it would protect everyone from passive smoking, but opponents said the total ban was "draconian".

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the ban was a "huge step forward" which would save thousands of people's lives.

Fixed penalties and the maximum fine amounts are as follows:

Smoking at Work or in a Vehicle Classed as a No Smoking Area:  fixed penalty £50, reduced to £30 if paid within fifteen days of issue. If prosecuted by court the maximum fine limit is £200.

Not Adhering to Signage Regulations (owners / managers): fixed penalty £200, reduced to £150 if paid within fifteen days from issue.  Court prosecuted cases hold a maximum fine level of £1000.

Not Maintaining a Smoke Free Place (owners / managers): a maximum penalty of £2500 to the person who manages / controls the area which does not comply with the Smoke Free legislation.  A fixed penalty notice is not appropriate in this situation.

On December 1, 2003, a law, The Road Vehicles Regulations 2003, came into force to prohibit drivers using a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, while driving.  It also made it an offence to "cause or permit" a driver to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving, or to use a hand-held mobile phone while supervising a driver who only has a provisional licence.

The penalties were initially a fixed penalty of £30 or a fine of up to £1,000 if the offender goes to court (£2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles or passenger carrying vehicles with 9 or more passenger seats). From February 27, 2007, the penalty for using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving increased to £60 and three penalty points added to the driver's licence.

The 1976 Race Relations Act is concerned with people's actions and the effects of their actions, not their opinions or beliefs. Racial discrimination is not the same as racial prejudice. It is not necessary to prove that the other person intended to discriminate against you: you only have to show that you received less favourable treatment as a result of what they did.

Under the Race Relations Act, it is unlawful for a person to discriminate on racial grounds against another person.  The Act defines racial grounds as including race, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origins.

Activities

a)   Take each of the apparently ‘new’ crimes and use some ‘patterns of change’ language to explain the nature of the change e.g. fraud has evolved using digital technology.

b)   Look at the news today. Are the reported crimes mostly new crimes or old crimes in a new format?

c)   Prepare an introduction and conclusion to this essay.