the good samaritan law
Looking away should never be the norm.
Violence against women and girls is not only a policing issue. It is a societal issue.
Part 2 of Dame Elish Angiolini's Inquiry concludes that preventing sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces requires a whole-society response. It calls for communities to feel liberated to act and for prevention to become reality rather than simply words in a strategy.
The Good Samaritan Law is one practical way of helping achieve that vision.
What is the proposal?
The proposal would introduce a legal duty to act when someone is clearly in danger. It would not require anyone to put themselves at risk.
It could mean:
- Calling the police.
- Calling emergency services.
- Alerting security staff.
- Seeking help from others.
- Safely intervening where appropriate.
The aim is simple: to create a culture where looking away is no longer the norm.
Why is it needed?
Every day, people witness harassment, violence or someone in obvious distress.
Most want to help.
Many are unsure what to do.
Others fear getting involved.
A Good Samaritan Law would create a clear expectation that we all have a responsibility to
respond safely when someone needs help.
It is about shared civic responsibility.
Why Zara?
Zara Aleena was attacked while walking home.
Her murder resulted from systemic failures that allowed a dangerous man to remain free.
There were also members of the public nearby.
This proposal is not about blaming those individuals. We do not know what they witnessed or
understood.
It is about ensuring that, as a society, we create an expectation that when someone appears to
be in danger, people know they have a responsibility to act safely by seeking help.
Why now?
The proposal has received support from the Prime Minister, Dame Elish Angiolini and Sir Mark Rowley, and has been developed with leading legal experts. It complements the Angiolini Inquiry by strengthening the role of citizens alongside improvements to policing, probation and the criminal justice system.
Institutional reform is essential.
So is civic responsibility.
Together they create the whole-society response Dame Elish calls for.
Add your support OR this coukd be a separate page what you can do today-
If you believe we all have a shared civic responsibility to act safely when someone is clearly in danger, please add your name in support of a UK Good Samaritan Law.
Together we can help build a society where looking away is no longer the norm.