Legal question

[User]

 

[ASC1951]

If by 'legal', you mean a general duty - police, possibly. Military, possibly. Everyone else, no.

But if you include a contractual obligation, yes, there could be. You could quite feasibly employ someone as a bodyguard, for instance, who would be in breach of contract if he just sat in his car while you were beaten up.

 

[Arjimlad]

If person C was in any sort of managerial role then there might be disciplinary consequences. There might be such consequences for failing to raise the alarm or call for help. All depends on the context, really..

 

[CopperCyclist]

Police are legally bound to act, however 'act' isn't defined, so (for example) they don't have to wade in outnumbered and outgunned. They must take some action though, and is for the individual to justify their 'dynamic risk assessment' and actions later.

Normal people have no such legal requirements, allow health and safety in the workplace may come into play in some situations - I. E. It would probably be seen as a breach if manager A sees patient B attacking staff C in a hospital, but simply ignored it and walked past rather than 'act' - again, the 'act' doesn't have to be wading in, calling for security or the police and warning others would be sensible.

A normal person on the street though? Nope.

 

[Pale Rider]

I believe there is a Good Samaritan law in some countries, but in the UK you have no obligation to help anther person in distress.

 

[DRHysted]

If you are not trained in restraint techniques, you could find yourself in trouble later down the line if helping.
We are trained to call the boys in Blue, and at no point to put ourselves at risk.