What is a typical exclusion found in the public liability section of shop insurance policies regarding damage to property?

In the public liability section of shop insurance policies, a typical exclusion involves damage to property in the custody of the insured. This exclusion is significant because the insurance policy is designed to provide coverage for third-party claims resulting from the insured's negligence. If the insured is responsible for property that they are liable for but do not own (such as items they are storing or handling for a client), it can create a situation where the insured is expected to have control over that property. This liability situation is distinct from general liability, where the insurance protects against claims made by third parties for damages caused to their property by the policyholder.

Therefore, the exclusion for damage to property in custody aligns with the principle that the insurer should not have to cover situations where the insured has taken on responsibility for property that is not theirs, thus avoiding those potentially higher risks that come with managing someone else's assets. This fosters a clearer understanding of the responsibilities and limits of liability coverage for the insured.