Changes in the law are set to protect people from litigation if they are caught up in liability claims while working as volunteers or carrying out good deeds.
The Ministry of Justice said that people are often put off from helping others because they are afraid of being sued for negligence if anything goes wrong. Now the issue is to be tackled with the new Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Bill, which was unveiled in the Queen’s Speech yesterday (4 June).
The bill will be introduced after incidents where concerns for health and safety legislation has led to dustpans and brushes being removed from people cleaning up broken glass in the street, and community street parties being cancelled due to the high cost of public liability insurance. Almost half of those questioned for a survey on volunteering said they did not because they were afraid of being held liable for any problems, the BBC reported.
The new bill will ensure that judges use common sense when presiding in such cases that go to court. Under the proposed legislation, they will be asked to look at what the defendant was doing and whether their actions were designed ‘for the benefit of society’, such as clearing snow, or helping in an emergency.
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: “I want a society where common sense is the order of the day, and I believe this measure will help us get there.”