Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015

The Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015 is a piece of legislation in the United Kingdom that aims to provide legal protection to individuals who take socially responsible actions or demonstrate heroism in certain situations. Enacted on 12 February 2015, the Act seeks to address concerns about the potential chilling effect of liability on individuals who act in a responsible and helpful manner.

Key Provisions

The Act introduces several key provisions that impact legal proceedings and considerations related to negligence and liability:

Social Responsibility

The Act emphasizes that the court should consider whether the defendant was acting for the benefit of society or any part of it when determining the standard of care that should be applied in a negligence claim.

Heroism

The Act requires the court to take into account whether the defendant showed a "predominantly responsible approach" towards protecting the safety or health of others when assessing liability in negligence claims.

Impact on Legal Proceedings

The Act does not create new causes of action or defences, but it aims to guide courts in their assessment of negligence claims by considering the context in which the alleged negligence occurred.

Rationale

The Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015 was introduced to address concerns that individuals might be deterred from taking responsible and helpful actions due to the fear of potential legal liability. Supporters of the Act argue that it encourages acts of social responsibility and heroism by providing greater clarity and reassurance regarding the legal standards applied to such actions.

Criticisms

Critics of the Act argue that it may have limited practical impact and that the existing legal framework already allows for the consideration of the defendant's conduct and motivations in negligence cases. Some legal experts have expressed concerns that the Act might not significantly change the outcome of negligence claims and that the language used in the Act, such as "heroism," could be vague and open to interpretation.