Rant about the Police

[johnf]

Forums a bit quiet so I thought I’d post the story of my rta last June as I’m feeling a little turned over by the police.

I’m sat at red traffic lights behind a Range Rover, the lights turn green and as we start to move off I catch a glimpse of a car overtaking on my right. At the same moment a Police car runs the lights on red. I didn’t hear sirens until the he suddenly appeared.

The Range rover emergency stops, better brakes than me and I nudge him up the rear.

I’m feeling pretty peed and angry - then I see the Police car stop, turn round.

They come back and the driver gets out, a Police Traffic Sergeant, holds up his hands and says don’t worry it was my fault just get your insurance to submit the claim and we’ll cover all the damage.

I made sure the driver of the Range Rover heard this admission and watched as the Officer rang in and logged the accident.

I feel pleased he\'s owned up don\'t expect any issues.

I had a punctured radiator and the Officer offered to have the Police recovery get me home.

I only live a mile away so declined and limped home.

I know the Highway Code always says you should travel a safe stopping distance behind the car in front but feel in this instance the Officer didn’t approach the lights with due care and attention.
A view my insurance agreed with and backed up by the admission of the officer have pursued the case against this officer on my behalf.

Well it’s taken a year but someone in an office has decided that it was my fault and whatever the Police Office admitted to has no bearing on liability.

I’m writing a letter of complaint to the Officer in Charge at Solihull Police Station but don’t expect any other result.

I went to the station in the hope of having a word with this Police Sergeant but he’s moved on and according to the desk guy won’t be going back the Solihull, describing him as arrogant.

What interests me is that if he was on an emergency call why did he feel it warranted stopping to return to a minor rta

Anyway rant over.

[boosted]

All highly frustrating, I would write a letter to your MP. Public relations is your best bet.

If no joy then sometimes best to draw a line and move on....saves the blood pressure!

[Mir]

Independent Police Complaint Commission, is your best bet.

Mir

[Prof]

"Anything you say can and will be used against you in court".
 
Surely if you have an independent witness having heard the officer confess to being the cause of an RTA, what more can the insurance bods want?
 
Maybe time to push it up to the ombudsman, if escalation within your insurance company isn\'t yielding results ?

[AMH]

"Anything you say can and will be used against you in court".

That\'s the US Miranda warning. In England and Wales this sort of thing only applies after someone has been formally cautioned.

I\'m not saying what\'s happened is fair but I was involved in an accident many years ago and the other driver admitted full liability at the scene. He then went back on that and his insurance claimed knock for knock. I was told that nothing anyone says at the scene of an accident means anything as they could be in shock etc

Sorry John but I don\'t think you\'re going to get a good outcome with this one.

[exiled-viking]

I can empathise with most of the thread as I been hit 3 time,s in no fault accidents  and being stationary at the time for all three, having got full admission of liability at the time of the accident , only to find they have told there insurance company\'s it was not there fault then twice going to court to fight and win the cases.

What I cannot quite under stand is all three dopey drivers have said the same thing.

      [ didn\'t not see the car in front of me ]

All three accidents have been on a bright hot sunny day

Thank my God for my dash- cam for indisputable evidence in my favour :Viking

[boosted]

got pulled over yesterday for 31 in a 20! By 2 police in a car at 5.30 am! Got let off after a little patronising speech about built up areas kids playing etc! . Id just gone over 4 speed humps at 10 mph and was exiting 20 zone into 30 zone. doh! I did point out that there was a gang that was cutting cats out of cars during the night and perhaps better use of time would have been patrolling the cul de sac\'s looking for sparks coming out of cars....think my cards are marked now!