PTE Write Essay Task:
You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organize your ideas, present supporting details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200-300 words.
Should individuals be held legally responsible for failing to report crimes they witnessed?
The question of whether persons should face legal consequences for neglecting to report crimes they witnessed is complicated. On the one hand, it could be argued that people have a moral obligation to report crimes they observe, and that failing to do so could result in more harm to the victim or others. On the other hand, there are a number of practical and legal factors to consider.
Individuals, in my opinion, should not be held legally liable for neglecting to report crimes they witnessed. While it is important for individuals to report crimes they witness, doing so is not always practical or safe. For example, reporting a crime may endanger the witness, or reporting the crime may be impossible if the witness lacks sufficient information.
Furthermore, the legal ramifications of holding individuals accountable for failing to report crimes must be considered. This could result in individuals being penalised for failing to report crimes they had no knowledge of or where there is no legal need for them to report. This could potentially lead to individuals being punished for exercising their right to keep silent or safeguarding their personal privacy.
Instead of holding people legally accountable for failing to report crimes they witnessed, the emphasis should be on teaching people about the necessity of reporting crimes and providing them with the means they need to do so. Anonymized tip lines, community awareness initiatives, and greater police presence in high-crime areas might all be part of this.
To summarize, while it is critical that individuals report crimes they witness, making them legally liable for failing to do so is not the solution. Instead, efforts should be made to educate people about the necessity of reporting crimes and to provide them with the resources they need to do so.
