Alcock v. The Chief Constable of South Yorkshire [1992] 1 AC 310

Relatives of those killed or injured at a football stadium claimed damages against the police for causing them nervous shock resulting in psychiatric illness. The relatives saw and heard the tragedy via live television or radio broadcasts. The police admitted liability in negligence but denied any duty of care to the plaintiffs. The issue was whether the relatives were entitled in law to damages. The House of Lords held that a claimant for damages for psychiatric injury must pass two tests.

The injury must be reasonably foreseeable (shown by a close tie of love and affection between the individuals). Second, the claimant must have been proximate to the incident or its aftermath at the time the incident occurred and the shock must have resulted from seeing or hearing the incident or its aftermath.

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