Advice RE possible police complaint

[onedsla]

Hi - Further to my last post regarding an accident in the ice at the weekend, I was rather suprised when a colleague in work called me asking how me / the car were - I hadn't told anybody at work about the accident.

On further investigation it turned out that my colleagues mum is a traffic cop and were sidcussing the details openly over dinner - is this allowed?!

It's just rather annoying that now I'm being pestered all the time about hte accident that I'd rather do without and I'm not at all happy about the police discussing the matter openly like this!

[soulpatch]

I am not qualified to answer this, but I did think that the data protection act would apply quite severely here!

[loserkid]

soulpatch said: I am not qualified to answer this, but I did think that the data protection act would apply quite severely here!

Nope. Data protection only covers Data not converstion etc.

Its a tad unprofessional but I'm not sure that the police have to swear to keep quiet like a doctor does?

[gemini]

It is unprofessional but hey we all talk about our work - even accountants!!
If youre ok and the car is getting repiared I suggest you forget it. It is only your pride getting in the way?
I think there is a complaint pending - should you make it one - but where it would get you?

[onedsla]

What I don't like is the report may be angling towards careless driving and was mentioned to people who didn't have a reasonable right to know - it's not the worst offense in the world, but I'm not too happy with discussing it openly (apart from on this forum - lol!)

[Richard C]

I can see your point and it is unprofessional but this sort of informal stuff could be made to work in your favour. I assume you are good terms with your colleague - maybe you can use that to head of the '....lets see if we can do him for careless driving, ......In our book theres no such thing as an accident...." mentality

[corozin]

On further investigation it turned out that my colleagues mum is a traffic cop and were sidcussing the details openly over dinner - is this allowed?!

---

No it bloody well isn't. Last year the Audit Commission produced a report which severely criticised:
a) The lack of security applied to most Police information systems.
b) The very poor audit trails used in those systems
c) The use of systems for unauthorised/inappropriate information retrieval by Officers.

In one case investigated by the commission, the arrest of a well known "baddie" was followed by 67 instances of unauthorised access to his Police records in just the first 24 hours following the arrest; sheer curiosity was the main culprit.

It's fair to say the report was pretty damning of these practices, and recommmended urgent changes to both systems and working practices/disciplinary procedures. The report is available for download from the Home Office website I believe.

I guess therefore that you have genuine grounds for complaint against the officer if you really do feel that bad about it. Personally I would attempt to talk to her 1-1 and put her in the picture about how unacceptable you found her behaviour though, rather than drag it through formal procedure.

John

[outlaw]

dont complain sue em

[bluesandtwos]

You have grounds to complain as its your choice, but it wont go anywhere, and I dont think its such a good idea considering it was only over a bump.

Move on and get over it.

[DanH]

You don't really want to be the guy in the Elise who complained about a traffic cop. It'll probably come back and bite you in the arse as they aren't that common a car...