The Evening Chronicle has been highlighting its year of campaigns for readers during 2001.

Fighting under banners such as Never Again, Keep the Micra in Britain, Dying for Justice and Be a Softie, the newspaper has touched the lives of thousands of people on Tyneside.

Never Again centred on the fight to close loopholes in the law which allowed a paedophile to prey on youngsters – murdering one child – while supposedly under supervision.

Two years of tireless lobbying brought a change in the law from the Government.

The Chronicle also helped win the fight to Keep the Micra in Britain, securing the future of hundreds of car plant workers.

More than 10,000 people have added their names to a petition for more airgun controls, and the fight for tougher regulations continues.

A campaign aimed at preventing drug rape called on ministers to do more to prevent such attacks.

In August a war hero was given the full military funeral he deserved. Military Medal holder Bobby Bell was due to have a pauper’s funeral after his death until the Chronicle stepped in.

The Dying for Justice campaign, which detailed the long delays in compensation claims for miners made ill by their work, scored a result early in the year when the Government promised to speed up processing of claims for victims and their widows.

The year came to a close with Be a Softie, which increased awareness of the dangers of drink-driving and encouraged drivers to stick to soft drinks.

Back to the campaigns index

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