Key Takeaways
- The UK government is considering implementing a Good Samaritan law to encourage people to help those in danger without fear of being sued.
- The law is being proposed in response to the murders of Sarah Everard and Zara Aleena, who were both killed by men with a history of violent behavior.
- Lady Elish’s report highlights systemic failures in the police and justice system that allowed these murders to occur.
- The report recommends improving information and programs to create a culture of positive masculinity and targeted public messaging about how to report crimes.
- Some countries, such as the US, Canada, and Finland, have already implemented Good Samaritan laws, while others, such as Germany and Italy, have a duty to rescue law.
Introduction to the Good Samaritan Law
The UK government is considering implementing a Good Samaritan law, which would encourage people to help those in danger without fear of being sued. This law is being proposed in response to the murders of Sarah Everard and Zara Aleena, who were both killed by men with a history of violent behavior. The law would create a legal duty to act when someone is clearly in danger, offering protection and obligation to those who intervene. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said that the government would carefully consider the recommendations.
The Need for Cultural Change
Ms Aleena’s aunt, Farah Naz, told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme that a new law would not mean witnesses putting themselves at risk, as stepping in could involve phoning the police, adding that it was about creating "cultural change". She said that Lady Elish’s report stated that the safety of women in public required "whole society action" and communities should feel "liberated to act". Ms Naz continued that women are being told that they are not safe in public spaces and that they have to be responsible for their own safety. She emphasized that the state needs to be acting with urgency to make women feel safe, as they have a right to feel safe in public spaces.
International Precedents
Countries around the world that enforce some kind of Good Samaritan law, legally protecting those who do assist from fear of being sued for "ordinary negligence", include the US, Canada, and Finland. Meanwhile, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Portugal all have a ‘duty to rescue law’ – rather than a Good Samaritan Law – making it a criminal offence to fail to provide assistance in an emergency, if they can reasonably do so without putting their own life at risk. These laws demonstrate that other countries have already taken steps to encourage people to help those in danger, and the UK could learn from their examples.
The Murder of Zara Aleena
Sexual predator Jordan McSweeney was captured on CCTV stalking the streets of Ilford approaching women before he pounced on and fatally beat Ms Aleena. The 29-year-old had been released from prison just nine days before he stalked, assaulted, and murdered Ms Aleena in what was described as a "brutal attack". Ms Naz said that Lady Elish’s report "brings pain" but was necessary "because it shows how the system failed, and still fails to stop dangerous men from roaming the streets". The report calls out systemic failure which occurred both in the case of Sarah and Zara, and highlights the need for urgent action to prevent similar murders from occurring in the future.
The Angiolini Inquiry
The Angiolini Inquiry was launched in 2021, following the abduction, rape, and murder of Ms Everard, 33, by serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens. The inquiry looked at how Couzens was able to carry out his crimes, and wider issues within policing and women’s safety. The first report, published in February 2024, found a number of failings, concluding that Ms Everard’s killer should never have been a police officer, highlighting opportunities were missed to stop him. Lady Elish recommended that by September 2024, police forces should ensure they have a specialist policy on investigating all sexual offences, including "non-contact" offences like indecent exposure.
Recommendations and Next Steps
The latest stage of the inquiry was told that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) had developed guidance to support forces with the recommendation, but as of September this year, 26% of police forces had not implemented the recommendation. Recommendations in her second report, published on Tuesday, included improving information and programs to create a culture of positive masculinity for men and boys, and targeted, consistent public messaging about how to report crimes. Speaking in the foreword of the inquiry’s second report, Sarah’s mother Susan Everard said that she is still struggling to come to terms with her daughter’s murder, and that she hopes that the report will lead to urgent action to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Conclusion
The proposal for a Good Samaritan law is a step in the right direction towards creating a safer and more caring society. The law would encourage people to help those in danger without fear of being sued, and would create a cultural change that prioritizes the safety of women and girls. The UK government should carefully consider the recommendations and take urgent action to implement the necessary changes to prevent similar murders from occurring in the future. The memory of Sarah Everard and Zara Aleena should be honored by creating a society that values the safety and dignity of all women and girls.
