Rise in risk in adventure activities has led to increased gang culture


				Rise in risk in adventure activities has led to increased gang culture In the Conservative Party’s report into health and safety, MP Julian Brazier has said that the rise in personal injury claims in the adventure activity sector has limited the opportunities for young people and cultivated an atmosphere for the growth of gangs. In the paper Mr Brazier asserts that the increased risk to organisers of adventure activities being sued for accidents has acted as a deterrent to organisers of events leaving young people with limited opportunities of things to do. The Conservative Party propose two changes to the current regime regulating the adventure activities sector: Negligence claims should be banned against the adventure activities sector where participants sign a disclaimer unless a high level of negligent disregard can be proven The Adventure Activity Licensing Authority which is currently part of the HSE should be separated as it is not appropriate to have a regulator of workplace safety imposing the same standards on the adventure activities sector. IOSH have welcomed the debate on the causes of risk and liability aversion and say that it is healthy for everyone to experience situations of risk. They say that many valuable life skills and benefits can be gained from learning to cope with risks in a managed environment. In October last year Prince Edward, chair of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, sparked controversy with his comments that the scheme was popular with young people because it has a “risk element” and “a sense that you could die doing [it]”. He went on: “Obviously, we don’t want that to happen. Certainly, that’s not the intention; we give them the skills to go out there and do it safely and constructively. It was just that psychology, about what makes young people tick.”