My Dad got assaulted

[paultownsend]

So my dad, 67, was pulling into the local shopping centre. It's a nice area. Car in front stops at pelican crossing, moped hits his boot. The friend of the moped driver, also on a moped starts going mad at my dad and step mum. Threatens to hit my step mum the went for my dad. Hit him and threw him on the floor. Thankfully a retired Policeman pulls the lad off. The event was also recorded by a onlooker. All parties agree my dad was the victim. He ended up in hospital on advice of the Police, but only has cuts and bruises.
The lad, 20ish never took his helmet off and drove away sharply when the onlooker told him she had filmed the event. Unfortunately no one got his registration.

My dad wishes to press charges, but the lad who stuck around won't give the Police the name of his revolting friend.

Does this lad have to give his friend up legally? Is it some sort of obstruction, or withhelding evidence?

[carreauchompeur]

In a word, no. Some Police cunning may need to be applied to join the dots.

[Fab32]

Is the car park covered by Parking Eye or similar?

[Du1point8]

So not giving a name of a person you know committed a crime is not Perverting the course of justice?

Its ok and nothing can be done?

[paultownsend]

Fab32 said:

Is the car park covered by Parking Eye or similar?

Unfortunately not. Think there are cameras over the bus stops. The community Police office is within the centre, and they have been great so far.

[egor110]

What about the footage the bystander filmed?

[Petrus1983]

Seems maddening for you/your father. If the moped hit your fathers car surely he's had to give his details to him? Go round, sit outside for a bit and before long dumb and dumber should be meeting up again??

[MattHall91]

Sorry, I was a bit pissed.
I'll hand myself in come the morning.

[paultownsend]

The details of the moped driver who hit the car have been taken. He is just refusing to tell the police who his friend, who assaulted my dad is.

Unfortunately the footage does not catch the lads face as he was wearing a helmet, nor does it catch his reg.

[Petrus1983]

If it were me I'd be all over the police to take this seriously - surely his friend is guilty of aiding and abetting or perverting the course of justice?? I have no legal knowledge so it's just a feeling.

[73mark]

Drive around the area at different times and he'll soon turn up with his m8 take his reg and be sure to thank the one that hit mum & dads car for bringing him to you.

Drive off watching them kick st out of each other.

[anonymous-user]

Sorry to hear you Dad has been assaulted.

For the other, the rider is under no obligation to provide details of his friend. For an "inchoate" offence i.e. assisting / encouraging an offence, he'd need to do an 'act' which shows this to be the case.

It's not perverting the course of justice there's no 'active' part being played e.g. disposing of evidence, giving false details of the person.

[voyds9]

Du1point8 said:

So not giving a name of a person you know committed a crime is not Perverting the course of justice?

Its ok and nothing can be done?

How far do you think that should be carried.

Should your wife/kids have to inform on you when you speed.

[Du1point8]

voyds9 said:

Du1point8 said:

So not giving a name of a person you know committed a crime is not Perverting the course of justice?

Its ok and nothing can be done?

How far do you think that should be carried.

Should your wife/kids have to inform on you when you speed.

Only if I get my kids to take the points for it.

[paultownsend]

Cheers gents. I will certainly not be lowering myself to their level. I will trust the Police to do what they do.

[Rich1973]

Nothing to add other than what a dreadful thing to have to deal with. Young scooter riders assaulting an old man, your father at that.
I would be wanting to see them experience pain.

[CoolHands]

Fab32 said:

Is the car park covered by Parking Eye or similar?

Ohhhhhh now we like Parking Eye, hey?

[JustinP1]

paultownsend said:

My dad wishes to press charges, but the lad who stuck around won't give the Police the name of his revolting friend.

Put the video on Youtube. Call the local rag, say you'd love it if their readers could help you bring the violent thug in the video to justice.

You could even let slip the name and address of the mope who drove into your Dad.

Compared to the usual local rag stories of primary school fundraising and parish council meetings, this will be gold dust. There's the moral outrage angle, the social media angle, and it looks great for the paper to support local people and fight crime. They'd be all over it. And when a reporter is knocking on the first scrote's door, he may be inclined to give the other up.

Someone will recognise the rider, helmet and bike and his association to the other scrote.

[carlove]

JustinP1 said:

Put the video on Youtube. Call the local rag, say you'd love it if their readers could help you bring the violent thug in the video to justice.

Good idea is social media, I think Facebook or Twitter would be better than YouTube though. The video going on Facebook would hopefully be shared around in the local area until he gets recognized. Does your town have a Facebook page? I know some places have a 'spotted' page or similar. If it got shared there then it's very possible he'd get identified very quickly.

[carinaman]

voyds9 said:

Du1point8 said:

So not giving a name of a person you know committed a crime is not Perverting the course of justice?

Its ok and nothing can be done?

How far do you think that should be carried.

Should your wife/kids have to inform on you when you speed.

I don't think the offences are comparable.

I think someone assaulting a stranger on the street is more grievious than exceeding a posted speed limit.

'Speed Kills'? So does lamping strangers.