There was an interesting debate on TV discussing whether being witness to a crime is worth it or if as citizens we are better off not getting involved. According to some members of the panel witnesses are let down by the police and the legal system because if you intervene during a crime taking place you can land yourself in a lot of trouble. Are we turning into quite a fearful mean nation? I think something has gone horribly wrong if we are all to be afraid of being good citizens.
My friends in India have often advised me to drive on if I see an accident or crime and not get involved which does go contrary to the way we have been brought up in Britain. The reasoning behind their advice is previous incidences where witnesses in India have saved/treated an injured person only to be pursued for compensation and life-long medical expenses for the audacity of caring. The logic, if you can call it that, is that if you hadn’t saved them they wouldn’t be alive and therefore they wouldn’t have needed money to pay their own medical bills.
I’ve never had to go to court to be a witness but I’ve heard it can be very intimidating and unpleasant. Perhaps it’s difficult to know how you would react until you find yourself in a situation?
Bubbly
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