Hill v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire [1989] AC 53 

Written By Nicolas Heyes

Court: House of Lords 

Basic Facts: Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, murdered Jacqueline Hill. Her father sued the police for negligence in failing to apprehend Sutcliffe before he killed Hill. 

Issue for the Court: Can the police be held liable in tort for failing to prevent a crime by a third party? 

Held: D were not liable in negligence as no duty of care had arisen on the facts

  • Lord Keith: Dismissed the claim, arguing that imposing liability on the police for failing to prevent crime would lead to an excessive number of lawsuits. Public policy also precludes liability as the police must prioritize resources across various duties. 

Key Issues: 

  • Omissions by Public Authorities: Public authorities, like the police, are generally not liable for failing to prevent third-party actions unless a special relationship or proximity exists. 

  • Public Policy: Imposing liability on the police for every failure to prevent crime would be unmanageable and against public interest. 

Nicolas Heyes
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