Hill v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire
House of Lords
28 April 1988
Case Analysis
Where Reported
[1989] A.C. 53; [1988] 2 W.L.R. 1049; [1988] 2 All E.R. 238; (1988) 152 L.G. Rev. 709; (1988) 85(20) L.S.G. 34; (1988) 138 N.L.J. Rep. 126; (1988) 132 S.J. 700
Case Digest
Subject: Negligence
Keywords: Duty of care; Negligence; Police
Summary: Duty of care; police; duty to suppress crime; whether liable for failure to apprehend criminal
Abstract: Police officers do not owe a general duty of care to the public at large to apprehend unknown criminals, nor to individual members of the public unless such failure creates an exceptional additional risk and there is a proximity between the officers and the potential victim. H was the mother of the last of the victims of Peter Sutcliffe, who murdered some 13 young women in Yorkshire between 1975 and 1980. She contended that but for negligence by the West Yorkshire police, he would have been apprehended before her daughter had been murdered. H's claim was struck out.
Held, dismissing the appeal, that there is no general duty of care owed by the police to members of the public at large to apprehend an unknown criminal. In any event, as a matter of public policy, the police were immune from allegations of negligence arising from their investigation and suppression of crime.
Judge: Lord Keith of Kinkel; Lord Brandon of Oakbrook; Lord Templeman; Lord Oliver; Lord Goff of Chieveley
Appellate History
Queen's Bench Division
Hill v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire
(1986) 136 N.L.J. 238
Affirmed by
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Hill v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire
[1988] Q.B. 60; [1987] 2 W.L.R. 1126; [1987] 1 All E.R. 1173; (1987) 151 L.G. Rev. 729; (1987) 84 L.S.G. 982; (1987) 137 N.L.J. 222; (1987) 131 S.J. 626
Affirmed by
House of Lords
Hill v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire
[1989] A.C. 53; [1988] 2 W.L.R. 1049; [1988] 2 All E.R. 238; (1988) 152 L.G. Rev. 709; (1988) 85(20) L.S.G. 34; (1988) 138 N.L.J. Rep. 126; (1988) 132 S.J. 700
Significant Cases Cited
Home Office v Dorset Yacht Co Ltd
[1970] A.C. 1004; [1970] 2 W.L.R. 1140; [1970] 2 All E.R. 294; [1970] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 453; (1970) 114 S.J. 375; (HL)
Cases Citing This Case
Disapproved by
Osman v United Kingdom (23452/94)
[1999] 1 F.L.R. 193; (2000) 29 E.H.R.R. 245; 5 B.H.R.C. 293; (1999) 1 L.G.L.R. 431; (1999) 11 Admin. L.R. 200; [2000] Inquest L.R. 101; Times, November 5, 1998; [1999] Crim. L.R. 82; [1998] H.R.C.D. 966; [1999] Fam. Law 86; (1999) 163 J.P.N. 297; (ECHR)
Distinguished by
O'Dwyer v Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
[1997] N.I. 403; (CA (NI))
Swinney v Chief Constable of Northumbria (No.2)
(1999) 11 Admin. L.R. 811; Times, May 25, 1999; (QBD)
Van Colle v Chief Constable of Hertfordshire
[2006] EWHC 360 (QB); [2006] 3 All E.R. 963; [2006] 1 F.C.R. 755; [2006] H.R.L.R. 25; [2006] Po. L.R. 47; [2006] Inquest L.R. 68; Times, March 28, 2006; Independent, March 22, 2006; (QBD)
W v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
[2000] 1 W.L.R. 1607; [2000] 4 All E.R. 934; [2000] I.C.R. 1064; [2000] I.R.L.R. 720; [2001] P.I.Q.R. P6; [2000] Po. L.R. 322; Times, August 1, 2000; Independent, November 6, 2000; (2000) 97(39) L.S.G. 42; (2000) 144 S.J.L.B. 248; (HL)
White (Michael) v Chief Constable of Merseyside
[1995] C.L.Y. 3686; (CC (Liverpool))
Applied by
Alexandrou v Oxford
[1993] 4 All E.R. 328; (1991) 3 Admin. L.R. 675; (1991) 155 L.G. Rev. 566; Times, February 19, 1990; (CA (Civ Div))
Clough v Bussan
[1990] 1 All E.R. 431; [1990] R.T.R. 178; (QBD)
Elguzouli-Daf v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
[1995] Q.B. 335; [1995] 2 W.L.R. 173; [1995] 1 All E.R. 833; (1995) 7 Admin. L.R. 421; (1995) 145 N.L.J. 151; Times, November 23, 1994; (CA (Civ Div))
Hughes v National Union of Mineworkers
[1991] 4 All E.R. 278; [1991] I.C.R. 669; Times, June 20, 1991; (QBD)
K v Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust
[2008] EWHC 1217 (QB); (2008) 11 C.C.L. Rep. 543; [2008] P.I.Q.R. P19; [2008] LS Law Medical 428; (QBD)
M v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis
[2007] EWCA Civ 1361; Times, January 4, 2008; (2008) 152(2) S.J.L.B. 35; (CA (Civ Div))
Palmer v Tees HA
(2000) 2 L.G.L.R. 69; [2000] P.I.Q.R. P1; [1999] Lloyd's Rep. Med. 351; [2000] P.N.L.R. 87; Times, July 6, 1999; (CA (Civ Div))
Followed by
Cowan v Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset
[2002] H.L.R. 44; [2001] Po. L.R. 425; Times, December 11, 2001; Independent, November 21, 2001; (CA (Civ Div))
Van Colle v Chief Constable of Hertfordshire
[2008] UKHL 50; [2008] 3 W.L.R. 593; [2008] 3 All E.R. 977; [2008] H.R.L.R. 44; [2008] U.K.H.R.R. 967; [2009] P.I.Q.R. P2; Times, August 1, 2008; Times, August 4, 2008; (2008) 152(32) S.J.L.B. 31; (HL)
Considered by
Ancell & Ancell v McDermott
Times, February 17, 1992; (QBD)
Brooks v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
[2005] UKHL 24; [2005] 1 W.L.R. 1495; [2005] 2 All E.R. 489; [2005] Po. L.R. 157; Times, April 26, 2005; (2005) 155 N.L.J. 653; (HL)
Commissioner of the Police for the Metropolis v Reilly
[2008] EWHC 2217 (QB); (QBD)
Costello v Chief Constable of Northumbria
[1999] 1 All E.R. 550; [1999] I.C.R. 752; (1999) 11 Admin. L.R. 81; (1999) 163 J.P.N. 634; (1998) 148 N.L.J. 1880; Times, December 15, 1998; (CA (Civ Div))
Crooks v Ebanks
[1999] 1 W.L.R. 1287; (PC (Jam))
John Munroe (Acrylics) Ltd v London Fire and Civil Defence Authority
[1997] Q.B. 983; [1996] 3 W.L.R. 988; [1996] 4 All E.R. 318; Times, May 22, 1996; (1996) 146 N.L.J. 1387; (QBD)
Johnstone v Traffic Commissioner
1990 S.L.T. 409; (OH)
Smith v Chief Constable of Sussex
[2008] EWCA Civ 39; [2008] H.R.L.R. 23; [2008] U.K.H.R.R. 551; [2008] P.I.Q.R. P12; Times, March 17, 2008; (CA (Civ Div))
X (Minors) v Bedfordshire CC
[1994] 2 W.L.R. 554; [1994] 4 All E.R. 602; [1994] 1 F.L.R. 431; 92 L.G.R. 427; Times, March 3, 1994; Independent, February 24, 1994; [1994] Fam. Law 434; Guardian, February 28, 1994; (1994) 144 N.L.J. 357; (CA (Civ Div))
Legislation cited
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934 (c.41)
Police Act 1964 (c.48) s.48(1)
Rules of the Supreme Court (Revision) 1965 (SI 1965 1776) para.19
Journal Articles
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P.L. 2008, Win, 793-794
Emergency services to the rescue?
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E.J.H.L. 2007, 14(2), 113-130
The Canadian Supreme Court's approach to the duty question and the tort of negligent investigation
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P.N. 2008, 24(2), 78-92
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Clinical negligence; Doctors; Medical treatment.
P.N. 2008, 24(2), 93-103
Police misconduct and the law: Part 1
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Legal Action 2005, Apr, 20-23
Personal injury update (May)
Child abuse; Duty of care; Health professionals; Personal injury; Police inquiries; Police powers and duties; Psychiatric harm; Witnesses.
N.L.J. 2005, 155(7175), 693-695
Fire brigade liability: the flame, the claim and the blame
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P.I.L.J. 2005, 36(Jun), 21-24
Domestic violence and the police
Domestic violence; Duty of care; Police powers and duties; Proximity.
S.J. 2008, 152(11), 14
Negligence liability for failing to prevent crime: the human rights dimension
Crime prevention; Duty of care; Human rights; Negligence; Police powers and duties.
C.L.J. 2008, 67(2), 239-241
Police not held responsible for PTSD
Duty of care; Police officers; Post traumatic stress disorder; Victims; Witnesses.
Post Mag. 2005, May 19, 25
The positive duty of the police to protect life
Common law; Knowledge; Police powers and duties; Positive obligations; Right to life; Witness protection.
P.N. 2008, 24(1), 27-35
Expert witnesses: professionally immune?
Civil proceedings; Expert witnesses; Immunity from suit; Right to fair trial.
P.N. 2007, 23(2), 66-81
The statutory system of the bank supervision and the failure of BCCI
Bank of England; Banking supervision; EC law; Immunities; Misfeasance in public office.
J.B.L. 2006, Aug, 487-510
The rise and fall of the general duty of care
Duty of care; Tortious liability.
P.N. 2006, 22(4), 206-224
Negligence law and blame culture: a critical response to a possible problem
Negligence.
P.N. 2006, 22(1), 2-31
Personal injury - negligence - duty of care
Duty of care; Police inquiries; Police powers and duties; Victims; Witnesses.
J.P.I. Law 2005, 3, C95-97
Right to a fair hearing
Access to justice; Human rights; Immunities; Negligence; Police.
E.L. Rev. 1999, 24 Supp (Human rights survey), 111-112
The negligent pursuit of public duty - a police immunity?
Duty of care; Immunities; Police officers; Public policy.
P.L. 1994, Spr, 4-11
The position of tort of public authorities after Beatty v The Rent Tribunal
Duty of care; Economic loss; Immunities; Ireland; Misfeasance in public office; Negligence; Public authorities.
Q.R.T.L. 2005/06, 1(1), 12-15
Police immunity and the legacy of Hill v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire
Police; Police inquiries; Professional negligence; Psychiatric harm; Public policy; Victims.
P.N. 2005, 21(3), 201-207
Police: duty of care to victims and witnesses
Duty of care; Police inquiries; Police powers and duties; Post traumatic stress disorder; Victims; Witnesses.
J. Crim. L. 2005, 69(4), 318-321
Decision in the Hill case is confirmed
Damages; Duty of care; Police inquiries; Police powers and duties; Post traumatic stress disorder; Psychiatric harm; Racially aggravated offences.
P.I. Comp. 2005, Jun, 11
Psychiatric injury: no duty of care owed by police to the victim of a crime
Duty of care; Police inquiries; Police powers and duties; Psychiatric harm; Victims; Witnesses.
Med. L. Mon. 2005, May, 5-6
Police not held responsible for PTSD
Duty of care; Police officers; Post traumatic stress disorder; Victims; Witnesses.
Post Mag. 2005, May 19, 25
Police duty of care
Duty of care; Police inquiries; Police powers and duties; Witnesses.
S.J. 2005, 149(21), 620-621
Road accidents and the emergency services: the law and practice of professional rescue re-visited
Ambulance service; Duty of care; Fire services; Police; Reasonable care; Rescuers; Right to life; Road traffic accidents; Victims.
P.N. 2003, 19(4), 517-535
Lawrence ruling means police not immune
Murder; Negligence; Police inquiries; Police officers; Race discrimination; Statutory duty.
Post Mag. 2002, May 2, 23
Osman and police immunity in the English law of torts
Access to justice; Human rights; Immunities; Negligence; Police; Public policy.
L.S. 2000, 20(3), 372-392
Police immunity, public policy and proportionality
Human rights; Immunities; Negligence; Police; Proportionality; Public policy.
N.L.J. 1999, 149(6870), 13-14,
Negligence actions against the police: in the public interest?
Confidential information; Duty of care; Informers; Police; Public policy.
K.C.L.J. 1996/97, 7, 104-107
Police negligence immunity: a hole in the blanket?
Confidential information; Duty of care; Informers; Police; Public policy.
S.J. 1996, 140(24), 606-607
Osman v Metropolitan Police Commissioner: the cost of police protectionism
Duty of care; Immunities; Police officers; Public policy.
M.L.R. 1993, 56(5), 732-738
Police liability after Ancell
Accidents; Duty of care; Police officers; Roads.
S.J. 1993, 137(13), 328
Proceedings to test legality of police and army action
Armed forces; Duty of care; Negligence; Police.
J. Crim. L. 1988, 52(4), 385-388
No duty of care
Duty of care; Negligence; Police; Victims.
C.S.W. 1988, 23(7), 75
