You want how much for a copy of accident report?
Discussion
£75!! 
That's what the police want just for a copy of the report for an incident I was involved in.
Simple question: Why?
Why? Why? I would like to hear just one single good reason for it £75.
Such sillyness is not exactly likely to make people very endeared to the police isn't it? I'm not surprised people give them such a hard time on those Police TV documentarys... and it's not the people doing the arresting and chasing that deserve it!
I wonder what happens when the police hate the public because the public hate the police? Being extreme, I get the disturbing feeling we might find out one day.
And all because the other guy's 'no win no fee' solicitors believe whatever crap he's telling them and I need to see what he said in the report?
Russ
That's what the police want just for a copy of the report for an incident I was involved in.
Simple question: Why?
Why? Why? I would like to hear just one single good reason for it £75.
Such sillyness is not exactly likely to make people very endeared to the police isn't it? I'm not surprised people give them such a hard time on those Police TV documentarys... and it's not the people doing the arresting and chasing that deserve it!
I wonder what happens when the police hate the public because the public hate the police? Being extreme, I get the disturbing feeling we might find out one day.
And all because the other guy's 'no win no fee' solicitors believe whatever crap he's telling them and I need to see what he said in the report?
Russ
Pardon but a bit hazy on this one going back to the 70"s when I worked in Police Traff Management for a spell.
This is the Evershed??? procedure where Insurance Companies/Solititors/persons involved, on payment of a fee set by HMG (even in those days relatively steep), were entitled to a copy of the Police Accident Report. All this basically consisted of was the bare factual details of time, date , place, vehicles involved and names of drivers, passengers, witnesses, injuries. Whilst a driver involved was entitled to a copy of his statement,IIRC release of statements of others did not take place unless release authorised by the maker.
Again as far as I recall release of Report only occurred after any criminal proceedings had been completed.
Dibble or Gone, will no doubt, be able to fill in on current procedure.
I always thought it was a load of dosh for a load of tosh.
DVD
This is the Evershed??? procedure where Insurance Companies/Solititors/persons involved, on payment of a fee set by HMG (even in those days relatively steep), were entitled to a copy of the Police Accident Report. All this basically consisted of was the bare factual details of time, date , place, vehicles involved and names of drivers, passengers, witnesses, injuries. Whilst a driver involved was entitled to a copy of his statement,IIRC release of statements of others did not take place unless release authorised by the maker.
Again as far as I recall release of Report only occurred after any criminal proceedings had been completed.
Dibble or Gone, will no doubt, be able to fill in on current procedure.
I always thought it was a load of dosh for a load of tosh.
DVD
Simple answer - cost recovery.
Very few accidents are that - usually they are collisions, with some kind of causation - even if that is the third party's driving.
When the reports are filed, someone then has to retrieve, copy and mail out the report, so there are costs involved, albeit they may not amount to what you are being asked to pay.
Our Accident Investigation Unit basically self finance their overtime (about £30k pa) by selling their more detailed reports to the insurers.
[Devil's_advocate]Although now there's the FOI Act, you could try that route - but you may only get an "edited" copy, only showing what you already know, ie the stuff about you/your vehicle.
Very few accidents are that - usually they are collisions, with some kind of causation - even if that is the third party's driving.
When the reports are filed, someone then has to retrieve, copy and mail out the report, so there are costs involved, albeit they may not amount to what you are being asked to pay.
Our Accident Investigation Unit basically self finance their overtime (about £30k pa) by selling their more detailed reports to the insurers.
[Devil's_advocate]Although now there's the FOI Act, you could try that route - but you may only get an "edited" copy, only showing what you already know, ie the stuff about you/your vehicle.
Retrieve, copy and mail out; a cost?
I would imagine that a government agency that the size of the Police would have a document management system.
Retrieval is next to free as is printing. Stuffing has a human cost unless you do lots of these then its machine based.
It costs 36p to extract, prepare, stuff and mail a direct mailer INCLUDING postage.
£75 is taking the piss and then some.
I would imagine that a government agency that the size of the Police would have a document management system.
Retrieval is next to free as is printing. Stuffing has a human cost unless you do lots of these then its machine based.
It costs 36p to extract, prepare, stuff and mail a direct mailer INCLUDING postage.
£75 is taking the piss and then some.
Streetcop said:
Hate police do you?
I also hate Doctors for charging £60 to complete a statement. I also hate bank managers for charing me £15 to send me a letter to say i'm overdrawn. I also hate Solicitors who charge £40 for writing to another solicitor...
Modern world eh?
I'm with SC on this one. There are costs involved in what you are asking for. It seems a fairly reasonable amount to me.
I perhaps wasn't as clear as I should have been - someone (ie me) has to fill it out in the first place, plus all the other staff who get their hands on it - my supervisors, input clerks, internal transport drivers etc etc.
It's a way to recover some of these costs. I didn't say it was right. And do you honestly think if there's an efficient, cost effective way of doing this, the Police are using it?
It's a way to recover some of these costs. I didn't say it was right. And do you honestly think if there's an efficient, cost effective way of doing this, the Police are using it?
andygo said:
So the Police fill in accident reports for every accident they attend even though that is not funded by the taxpayer, either council or government.
As a matter of interest then, what part of the accident process ARE the Police paid for?
The actual attending; the vehicles to do the job, the wages of the police involved, the time to clear the road, take statements etc etc
Streetcop said:
Hate police do you?
No of course not, and please don't think I am saying that!
I'm only hypothesising.. I must stop reading Brave New World and such!
My post was rather over reactionary so sorry about that! In my case, no police attended the accident, we simply drove to the station and spoke to a very nice young chap who lived near me in Bristol, for 20 minutes. He came out to look at the damage, complimented me on my car and I left
. It was a good experience but finding out this cost was not! It didn't help being told the cost was around £29 by somebody else 
. No criminal proceedings were taken.
Like 'poorcardealer' I was under the impression taking statements etc was a police job paid for by tax but I guess not. Thanks for clarifying.
kind regards
Russ
>> Edited by Pentoman on Friday 21st January 19:11
>> Edited by Pentoman on Friday 21st January 19:21
If it is just a copy of a report that already exists I thought the Data Protection Act covers access to this. If you want to see the report they have a set time show you and if you want a copy they can charge reasonable photocopying costs (few quid). If you need someone to explain what the document says/means they can charge you for this as well. The DPA covers all records kept on you computerised or manual. Hope I've not misunderstood what you need.
Pentoman said:
Hate police do you?
No of course not, and please don't think I am saying that!
I'm only hypothesising.. I must stop reading Brave New World and such!
I'm sorry too..I react too quickly to things....
(not a great habit in my job.
Regards,
Gary
Streetcop said:
Erm but the tax payer is already paying for the police, or am I mistaken?
You're mistaken. Accident reports are above and beyond what you get for your taxes.
I mean...you pay for your binmen, but try getting them to take something that wont fit into your bin
Er
I beg to differ - my council tax pays for the Police force. That cost should be fully loaded by the 
s to take all aspects into account. £75 IS too much - I also believe that in the examples you quote the Doctor should not charge (unless it is a private service) and this should be covered by NHS costs, however a Solicitors is a private not public entity and thus price is dictated by supply & demand like every market.
The Police force, like any other public institution, is funded by the taxpayer end-to-end and should provide a service as such.
Sorry SC but you're talking nonsense.
Generally the fees required for accident/collision reports are when insurance companies ask for them.
Often, BiB have given the reports to members of the public for free....and the insurance firms get charged.
The Insurance firms have got wise to this and often ask for their 'client' to request the form on their behalf in the hope of not having to pay the fee.
Often, BiB have given the reports to members of the public for free....and the insurance firms get charged.
The Insurance firms have got wise to this and often ask for their 'client' to request the form on their behalf in the hope of not having to pay the fee.
TripleS said:
S Works said:
...a Solicitors is a private not public entity and thus price is dictated by supply & demand like every market.
Are you sure? It looks a bit fixed to me. Competition does not seem to be much in evidence.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Yep, I'm totally sure - it's market-driven, might be a bit of an oligopoly but price is still fixed by supply and demand. Low supply, high demand (relatively) = higer price. We might not like it but it's basic economics mate.
Streetcop said:
Generally the fees required for accident/collision reports are when insurance companies ask for them.
Often, BiB have given the reports to members of the public for free....and the insurance firms get charged.
The Insurance firms have got wise to this and often ask for their 'client' to request the form on their behalf in the hope of not having to pay the fee.
Understood, doesn't make it right though. I stand by my original comment. This is just another stealth tax.
>> Edited by S Works on Saturday 22 January 09:55
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