OmissionMeansAFailureToAct

Definition:
Accordingtooxfordlawdictionarythewordomissionmeans:afailuretoact'thatmeans
whenapersonisboundtodooractbutheomitstodothatordeliberatelyneglectsit,it's
calledomission.
Asummaryofcriminallawonomissions:adefendantisonlyguiltyofacrimewhen
failingtoact,whereheorsheisunderadutytoact.J.Herring[2008]CriminalLaw,
text,cases,andmaterial.
Forexampleifapersonpassingbyapoolsawachilddrowninginitandthereisnoother
sourcespresenttorescuehimfromdrowningandthatpersonpassesbythatpooland
leavingthechildtodie,hecommitsomission.

Introduction:
Therearegenerallytwokindsofdutieswhichahumanbeinghastowardshisfellowmen,
firstlyheisdutyboundbylawtoactaccordingtolawofthetimeorcurrentstatutein
force,thatiscalledstatutoryduties,failingtothosehecouldbeguiltyofcriminal
prosecution.Ontheotherhandtherearesomemoraldutiesofamantowardshisfellow
humanbeing,inthatcaseheisnotdutyboundbylawbutbymoraltraditionsormoral
values,thesedutiesarecalledmoralduties.

Alegalcommonlawdutyisnothingelsethantheenforcingbylawofthatwhichisa
moralobligationwithoutlegalenforcement.LordColeridgeCJinInstan[1893]

Inmajorityofthecriminalcasestherearetwotypesofelementinvolved,firstlyitsmens
reawhichisanintentiontocommitoffenceandit'srelatedtothemindoftheoffender,
secondlythereisactusreawhichalsocalledtheactoftheoffenderwhichisrelatedto
doingoractingofaparticularact.Asfarastheomissionisconcerneditisomittingofan
actwhichapersonisboundtodooract,inUKlawstherearenospecificlawsdescribed
topunishapersonwhoomittodooromittoactunlessanduntilheisdutyboundtodo
suchact.Thisisnotthesameasowingadutyofcare,butgenerallywherethereisa
dutytoactthereisalmostinevitablyadutyofcare.J.HerringandE.Palser.Thereare
certainpeoplewhoowedutytowardstheotherssuchasmotherorfatherowesaduty
towardstheirchildren,partnerslivingtogetheristhesamedwellingandthedutiesa
doctorowestowardshispatients.Thesearenotakindofstatutorydutiestheseareinfact
akindofmoraldutiesbecausethesearenotspecifiedinanylaworstatue.

Asthetimeprogressesstatuesaremakingnewlawsonsuchdutiesforinstancethes.5of
theDomesticViolenceCrimeandVictimsActimposesaspecialkindofdutiesonthe
peopleofthesamedwellingtosafeguardthelifeofachildorvulnerableadultwholives
intheminit.TherecentcaseofRvs.Khan(Uzma)isanexampleofit.Thereislotmore
tobeclarifiedasfarasthedutiesareconcerned
Asfarasthecommonlawisconcernedthereisnogeneraldutyorcriminalliabilityfora
failuretoact,butthereareexceptionaldutiesincurreduponthedefendantfailureto
whichheisliabletocriminalprosecution.Forinstanceinsection6(4)oftheRoadand
TrafficAct1988amotoristisliableforcriminalprosecutionifheondemandfailsto
provideabreathsampleaskedbyasergeantforaroadsidecheck.Interestinglythe
punishmentforsuchcrime(omission)issameasforthecommissionofit.Similarly
whereadriverrefusestoprovidehiswareboutstoanofficerwhenhisvehicleisinvolved
inanaccidentorinjuriestosomeperson,heisguiltyofanoffenceunder(s.170(4)of
RoadTrafficAct1988).

Therearefivesituationhighlightedbythestatueswhereapersonisdutyboundtoact
otherwisehemaybecriminallyliableforthat.

1.Where A Duty Arising From A Statue

Whereadefendantwasdutyboundbyaspecificstatueorlawtoactbuthewillinglydoes
notdosoheisliableofanoffence.Forinstanceitisanoffenceunders.19ofTerrorism
Act2000whereapersonwillfullyconcealorrefusestogiveinformationonthenoticinga
personofsomesuspiciousactivitiesinvolvedinhisdealing.ThefamouscaseofDytham
[1979]QB722,D,whereamanwastakenoutofabarbyabouncerandwaskickedto
deathinfrontofapoliceconstable,whenthepeoplearoundtheiraskedtheconstablefor
helpingthevictimtheconstablerefusedtodosobysayingthathewasalreadyoffduty.
Theconstablewaschargedwiththeoffenceofmisconductforthenegligencetoperform
hisdutiestomaintainthepeace.Similarlythereisacommonexampleofamotoristwho
refusestogivethebreathsampleswhenaskedbyanauthorizedperson;heissurelyliable
ofanoffenceunders.7(6)ofRoadTrafficAct1988.

2.Where A Person Is Bound By A Contract

Apersonisboundtoactaccordingtolawwherehehasgoneunderacontractwithothers.
Itishisobligatoryandstatutorydutytoactaccordingtolaw.Heisanswerabletothe
partyunderastatuetoactaccordingtolaw,failingwhichhecouldbecriminallyliableof
anoffence.forexamplethecaseofPittwood(1902)19TLR37wherehewashiredby
therailwaycompanytolookaftertherailwaycrossingandshutthegatewhenthetrain
approachesthecrossingtoavoidanydamageorharmtotheroadusers.Whileoneday
duringthedutyhewentoutandthegateremainedopenwhilethetrainapproachedanda
manwaskilledwhilecrossingthetraintrack,Pettwoodwasprosecutedforgross
negligencemanslaughter.

3.WhereADutyArisesFromARelation
Therearetwotypesofrelationamongthepeopleonisbybloodandtheotherisby
subsequentrelations.Usuallyparentsaredutyboundtotakecareoftheirchildren,this
dutyisbothimposedbylawandbymoralityonthem,andthereforetheyareunderaduty
toprotecttheirchildrenfromanykindofphysicalharm.InthefamouscaseofGibbons
andProctor(1918)13CrAppR134,wherebothmanandthewomanwerecharged
guiltyduetostarvingthechildtodeathbystoppingtoprovideitfood,themanwas
chargedbecausehewasunderadutytotakecareofhischildwhilethewifewhotook
moneyfromthefatherofthechildautomaticallyowesadutytowardsthechildtolook
afterit.

4.RelianceOrVoluntaryResposibility
Ifacoupletakesadutyofcareforachildtolookafterhimandtheyarebeingpaidforit
thatiscalledcontractualdutyontheotherhandwhereacoupleassumeadutyofcare
towardstherevulnerablerelativetheyassumeadutyofvoluntaryresponsibilitytolook
afterhimandtakecareofhim,failingtodosotheymaybechargedforcriminaloffence.
ThisrulewasfollowedinthecaseofStoneandDobinson[1977]2AllE.R341.Inthis
thedefendantwasliableforacriminalgrossnegligencefornottakingcareoftheirinfirm
relative.Whatwouldhavebeentheresult,hadthedeceasedbeennottheirrelative?The
casesinvolvedassumptionofadutyinrespectofaduty,butthereisnologicalreason
whytheassumptionshouldnotbeinrespectofanonrelativeA.ReedandBen
Fitzpatrick;CriminalLaw[2009]p31.

5.DutyArisingFromCommisionOfAFault
ForexampleifDishascreatedanunlawfulsituationwithoutanymensreabutstillhe
holdsaresponsibilityforsuchact,hedeliberatelyrefusestoovercomeoraskforanyhelp
togetthesituationoutofdanger,heissurelyliableforthatnegligence.Samewastherule
followedinthecaseMiller[1983]2AC161.WhereDwasavagrantwhowastenantina
house,onenightheaccidentlyforgottounlithiscigarettebeforegoingtodeepsleepand
aftersometimehegotupandrealizedthemattresswasonfire,henevercaredforitand
wenttosleepintheotherroom,thehousecaughtfireandoverallaheavylosswasdone
tothehouse.Millerwaschargedforcriminalliability.Itwasheldthathewouldhave
easilycalledforhelponcehegotupandrealizedthathisnegligenceisgoingtobring
somedamagetothehouse.

ShouldOmissionBePunishedOrNo?IfYes,InWhat
Circumstances?
It'sbeenalongdebatebetweentheauthorswhethertheomissionshouldbepunishedby
lawornot.Manyofthemhavearguedinfavorofitandmanyaregoingagainsttheidea
topunishomission.It'snotbeenaneasytasktotalkonsuchacomplicatedissueoflaw.
Authorswhosupporttheideaofpenalizingomissionsuggestthatthereshouldbeaclear
linebetweenomission,commissionandact.Itisfactthattherearesomecircumstances
whereonecouldbeliableforpunishmentforthewrongdoingsofanother.Theruleof
vicariousliabilityisagoodexampleofit,whereanemployerofacompanyorfirmis
liableforthewrongdoingsoftheemployeeofthesamecompany.Sameisthecaseinthe
casesofabetmentwhereapersonwhoabetsthecrimeisliableforthecommissionofthe
crimeoftheother.
AndrewAshworthisastrongsupporterofthepunishmentfortheomissionbutatthe
sametimeheputsomelimitationsonthepunishmentsofomissions.Ashworthtalksof
twodifferentviewsonomission,firstlytheconventionalview,wherehesuggeststhat
criminallawshouldnotpunishpeopleunlessanduntilinclearandseriouscases.
Secondly,thesocialresponsibilityview,whereheisoftheviewthattherearetimesand
situationswherepeoplehelponeanotherandfurthersaysthatindividualsneedothers,
andpeoplelivinginthesamesocietydoesowesomedutiestootherslivingwiththem.
Furtherhedescribesthreemoredutiesonthebasisofsocialresponsibility,thedutyto
assistthoseinperil,thedutytotakereasonablestepstowardslawenforcement,andthe
dutytoensurethehealthandwelfareofone'schildren.

SimilarlyWilliamWilsonisoftheviewthatwhatismorallyworse/causally
moresignificant:shootingachildtopreventtheagonyofherburningto
deathinaflaminginfernooneispowerlesstoprevent,orfailingtosavea
himfromasimilarfatebythesimplemechanismofunlockingthedoor
behindwhichsheistrapped?'W.Wilson[2003]CriminalLaw.
Allofthecurrentauthorswhosupportthetheoryofpunishingomissionsare
agreedonthepointthatthereshouldbecertaincircumstancewhereaperson
shouldensurehissafetyfirstbeforehelpingothers;heshouldnotputhisown
lifeindangertosaveothers.Themoraldutiesshouldalwaysbepresentin
thesocietyforthemutualrelationsamongthepeople.Ithasbeenproveby
therecentcasesandsomeofthepreviousthatmurderandmanslaughtercan
becommittedbyomission.ThefamouscaseofRvs.Evans[2009]CA,
whereanimportantissueofdutyofcarewasaroused.Inthiscasethe
defendantwastheelderhalfsisterofthevictimwhomshesuppliedthedose
ofheroinwhichcausedthedeathofthevictim,themotherofthevictimwas
alsopresentthereatthattime,whenboththedefendantrealizedthatthe
victimwasunconscioustheyinsteadofcallingformedicalassistancewento
theirroomsandwatchedTV.Thevictima16yearolddiedofoverdose.The
defendantwaschargedforfouryearinprisonandhermotherwasfortwo.
Thequestionwasraisedwhetherthedefendantowedadutyunderthose
circumstancesaftershesuppliedherointothevictim?Itwasheldyes'that
thedefendantowedadutyofcareinthosecircumstances.
Asfarasauthorswhosupportomissionnottobepenalizedtheyclaimthatit
isamoraldutymorethanastatutoryduty.Someofthemsaythatnot
everybodyhasadutytowardseverybody.ForinstanceEricMack,1980
arguesthatwhenapersonwalkpassbyachildwhoisdrowninginapool
shouldhebeliableforthedeathofthatchild?Usingbutfor'causationhe
canbearguedthathadthedefendantnotbeentherethechildwouldstillhave
diedatthesametimeandinthesameplace.Theomissionfailedtoalterthe
statusquo.Manyothersclaimthatomissionisjustamatterofcommon
senseanddoesnotneedanystatueorpunishmentforit,andomissioncannot
commitaresult,andunlessanduntiladutytoactisnotthere,the
commissionofomissionisoutofquestion.
G.WilliamsinonthepointthatAcrimecanbecommittedbyomission,but
therecanbenoomissioninlawintheabsenceofadutytoact.Thereasonis
obvious.Ifthereisanact,someoneacts;butifthereisanomission,everyone
(inasense)omits.Weomittodoeverythingintheworldthatisnotdone.
Onlythoseofusomitinlawwhoareunderadutytoact.G.Williams
[1978]TextBookofCriminalLaw,p.148149.
Thecentrepointisthatthereshouldbeastatutoryduty,forwhichoneis
liableforpunishment,isverymuchdifficulttopunishonefornotcompiling
withthemoralduties,becausemoraldutiesareallwasexceptional.
Everybodyinthesocietyisfreetopracticehisownwillswithinalimit.
G.WilliamsopposingAshworth'sscopeofliabilityforomissioninaway
thatthecourtsmustbveryclearindecidingthesecases,anditshouldbe
doneinclearandopenlanguage.Hetalksinfavorofnotpunishingthe
omissionsandsayingthat,Itisextraordinarytoproposethatthecriminal
liabilityofomittersshouldbemademorestringentthanthecriminalliability
ofdoers;andIhavecriticizedtheproposalonthisground.'G.Williams,
(1991)107LQR86.

Conclusion
Ithasbeenprovedbythecasesandrecentverdictsofthecourtsthatomission
insomecircumstancecanleadtosomeseriouscrimes,likemurderand
manslaughter.Therearecaseswherewecansaythatomissiongivesbirthto
grossnegligenceanditneedstobebroughtinacircleofstatueandthere
shouldbesomeproperlawsandstatuetotacklewiththistypeofomission.It
canonlybemadepossiblemakingclearandboldlawswherefailingtoact
shouldbepunished.Theparametersofthedutiesshouldbemuchclearer.In
thecasesrelatingtocloserelationthereshouldbealinedrawnbetweenwho
owesdutiestowardswhom?Itwouldbeverymuchdifficulttopunishallthe
bystanderswhowatchedachilddrowning,sothecriteriaofpunishingthe
peoplefornotdoingshouldbehandledcarefully.Inthecomplicatedcasesof
omissionitshouldbethecourtwhodecidesthedutiesornegligence.Ineach
andeverycasethepunishmentfortheomissionshouldbedealtwithoutmost
care.