Glasbrook Bros v Glamorgan County Council:

The managers of a coal mine asked the police to provide additional protection during a strike action by workers. The police superintendent could only provide mobile police officers and refused to specifically station police officers at the coal mine unless the manager paid extra to cover the expense. Though the managers agreed to this arrangement, they later refused to pay even after the police were stationed at the coal mine. The police sued.

Procedural History:

At the trial court and the court of appeal, it was held that since the managers of the coal mine asked for special protection, they must pay. The coal mine appealed to the House of Lords.

Issue:

Whether or not the protection provided by the police to the coal mine was consideration for the promise by the managers of the coal mine to pay.

Holding:

The protection provided by the police to the coal mine was sufficient consideration.

Ratio Decidendi:

It was reasoned that the police had gone beyond their public duty of providing protection to life and property when they were specifically stationed at the coal mine. Being stationed at the coal mine was not what their public duty was, and this was considered consideration for the promise made by the managers of the coal mine to pay.