Vicarious Liability

Q. Vicarious Liability [4 marks - 2018]

Vicarious Liability

Vicarious liability means criminal responsibility for the act or omission of another, usually an employee.

In R v Shorrock, the defendant was held to be vicariously liable for the common law offence of public nuisance having granted a licence over a field which was used for an event at which loud music was played which disturbed local residents. The defendant was not present at the event, but was found guilty of causing a public nuisance.