Sir – If a child was trapped in a burning building would you immediately run in and try to save him? Or would you not act at all, for fear of being blamed if the rescue does not go to plan?

 

If you don’t know what you are doing, or the smoke or heat is worse than you thought, you could end up needing to be rescued yourself and may endanger the child further by wasting time and resources.

 

The Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Bill, aims to encourage ‘heroism’ by removing any fear of litigation. It asks the courts to take the intentions of a hero into account, even though the law already expects the courts to do this.

 

So, not only does this Bill run the risk of encouraging recklessness on the part of the would-be hero, it is also unnecessary.

 

No one should be put off saving people through the fear of being sued. But if the Government believes that people don’t already understand their responsibilities under the law then, as the president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers told MPs recently, an education campaign is needed to help people understand what the law expects, not pointless legislation which could create greater confusion.

 

Richard Coleman, Withy King Solicitors, Oxford