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[Markjay]

Just went outside to get something from my wife’s car. The was a Police Astra with flashing lights parked alongside it, and two officers looking at the car and taking notes. ‘Is there a problem, officer...? I asked as one does... well apparently they pulled-over a van because the driver was talking on the mobile while driving, and the van scratched the front wing of my wife’s car...

So technically, the officers said, because they had the blue lights on, my car was involved in a police collision and they had to fill-in a report... I took the other driver’s details, turns out he is a nice Greek fellow who hired a van because he is moving house today, and was not very skilled at driving one of these big beasts...

Two hours (!) later I get call from one of the police officers (I gave them my mobile number), he needs me for some paperwork... so I go back to them again, and he starts filling some form and says it’s only a formality, but as the car was parked there and they had the blue lights on etc, and then he tells me to take the form to a police station and produce my valid insurance and MOT.

I said no way I am going to a Police station on Monday, far too busy, and anyway I don’t care too much about the scratch on the wing... told him if he wanted I’ll go and get the documents now (luckily I did the MOT on the last day just a week ago - thanks Tony STS Watford!) , he can see them, copy them, but I am not wasting any more time on this... so I showed him the docs and he took notes, lots of notes, which I thought was very odd... surely the Police have access to the DVLA database (everyone else seems to anyway)?

I then pointed out to them that it seems odd they spend so much time on this, he said yes there is a fight nearby and they have to go and help, but they can’t leave the ‘scene’ until another police car arrives to take over... take over what? OK the guy talked on the phone and scratched my wing, but you would think there are more important things to deal with... they are still outside the house...  

[Markie]

Says it all really. The Police Force is now a business and drowning in process.Common sense moved out when Political Correctness moved in.

Its also great how they treat the innocent man in such a way you start to wonder if you have done something wrong.

[Markjay]

...Its also great how they treat the innocent man in such a way you start to wonder if you have done something wrong.

Indeed...   I wasn't even in the car while it all happened....  

[hotel21]

Its not you thats in the dooda Markjay, but the officers conducting the stop, despite the apparent triviality of the damage.  As the blues were on it is now technically a 'persuit' and procedures must be followed.......

Round our way the investigating officer has to be at least one rank above the officer involved.  Indeed, if the 'incident' involves a serious or fatality then the investigating officer has to be from an outside Force....  This can take time to source as he/she could also be a custody officer elsewhere who needs to arrange cover for his job.

All due to the assorted various wailings and pleadings of the great injusticed who think that the police are picking on them for no reason and so complain regarding injustice/mistreatment at any and every opportunity.

It results in a sledgehammer/nut response by officialdom to ensure that no corners are cut, no page unturned, no T uncrossed, etc etc.  Yes, they do have better things to do but the public have tied their hands somewhat....  :-/

If theres blame, theres a claim....    

[theolodian]

Ah the state of the modern police and justice system!  :-?

I thought you didn't have to have MOT to park on the street, just tax?

[hotel21]

Ah the state of the modern police and justice system!  :-?

I thought you didn't have to have MOT to park on the street, just tax?

If its on the Queens Highway, then you need the lot - MOT, tax and insurance.

If Joe Scrote decides to push it and snaps the handbrake cable and the car rolls downhill into your front bedroom, would you like it to be insured??  When was it last tested??    

[Dean]

I would agree with most of the comments on here, not exactly a pursuit from what you are describing. It is a vacinity POLAC (police accident).

If owing to the presence of a police vehicle and accident accurs then it is by definition a POLAC.

It does have to be investigated by a senior officer (more often than not a sergeant)

He/She will normally attend the scene and complete an accident report and then later a POLAC report that is submitted to the traffic management unit (local procedures may differ).

The sergeant will then decide if the Police driver is blameworthy, ie attempted to stop the member of the public in an innapropriate spot etc. If it is blameworth then the police driver can be suspended from driving (probably not in this case however)

The definition in law to a road traffic accident is similar to the POLAC definition - Owing to the presence of a motor vehicle on a road an accident accures where personal injury is caused or damage is caused to onther vehicle, person or property not in or on the said vehicle. (not verbatum but close enough for this explanation)

So it is a accident, and even though you were not in the vehicle you have been involved by your ownership. In relation to production of documents. You are not legally required to produce you driving licence, because at the time you were not driving and the officer has no suspicion you were driving. Because your vehicle is technically being (USED) on a road you are required to have valid Insurance and test certificate. You are required to produce these to the officer. either in person or at a police station of your choice within 7 days.

It may all seem a bit over the top, but it all needs to be done so that these things can be recorded in case the police driver has a training need and for health and safety - also covers your back if the damage had been more severe and the other driver had no insurance.

However - yes police do have access to the motor insurers database and the MOT database -so he should have known you were legit, however to be entering this information on a document can be interperated as a breach of data protection because the motor insurers database is there for police investigations into offences relating to your insurance not to make it easier to fill in an accident report---- pants i know!

[Danny]

Stick around for a good while Dean, I think your comments/advice will be very much appreciated  

if not, they make interesting reading to the likes of myself!

[Chopsdad]

Could've been worse........there may have been a tramp asleep inside  

[Markjay]

Could've been worse........there may have been a tramp asleep inside  

 

[Markjay]

Thanks Hotel21 and Dean, your contribution is as always extremely helpful!  

Well I guess it makes sense... still to layman this is a strange event.  

The van driver just came back to sort out the details (apparently he just moved-in to our neighbourhood).

[Markjay]

I forgot to mention - van driver man said that the cops let him off without a ticket for the mobile phone...  

[Dean]

God! He scratches your car probably because he was concentrating on his phone converstion, Then they let him off... Thats 3 points and £60 fine.

I am sorry he would have the ticket and possibly a due care and attention because of the fact he hit another car.

What would happen if that was a child? All hell would break loose!

[Danny]

see! why introduce rules if they wont be upheld?? reminds me of my old boss!!

Dean I noticed you'd asked a few questions about certain things to do with your car in other threads, none of which i know any answers to, I was just wondering if you're missing your book pack? if you are, do you want mine? mines for a pre facelift omega even tho my car's a facelift

[Dean]

Do you mean the car manual thing that goes in the glove compartment?

If so i have that..

Thanks for the offer anyhow