Discussion
I've never felt the need to comment on here before, but I fell like I have been let down by the plod.
Last Thursday night I was at the pub my girlfriend works in, it was quiz night. I'm at the pub 4 nights a week and I drive her home, any local in that will vouch for the fact that I drink diet coke, bloody gallons of it, never drink a drop of booze whilst driving.
One of the regulars comes in with a slip of paper and says, 'here's the reg number of a silver car that has just hit yours and driven off'. Oh joy. So I go outside and there's my poor little MGB with a load of paint missing off the rear wing and a small dent.
So I call Hampshire constabulary and tell em what's happened, I say "its half ten, he's just driven out of a pub car park and hit my car, maybe you could pop round, get his insurance details and take the opportunity to breathalyse him", 'yes yes yes' she says, 'please pop to local cop shop to make a statement and take your car documents with you'.
So I go to fill in the form and take tax, mot, insurance and log book with me, she asks for driving licence, I've left it at home as its not one of the cars documents and in any case I was not driving when it happened.
I got issued a 7 day producer, feel a bit peeved as sort of feel like I've done something wrong, but oh well.
I say "dya breathalyse him last night?"
answer "er, nope"
me "oh great, we made the most of that opportunity then"
Took my license to the cop shop with the 7 day producer last night, filled in forms etc.
I say "have you done anything?"
Desk chap says "er, nope".
Exactly what do I pay my council tax and income tax for?
Last Thursday night I was at the pub my girlfriend works in, it was quiz night. I'm at the pub 4 nights a week and I drive her home, any local in that will vouch for the fact that I drink diet coke, bloody gallons of it, never drink a drop of booze whilst driving.
One of the regulars comes in with a slip of paper and says, 'here's the reg number of a silver car that has just hit yours and driven off'. Oh joy. So I go outside and there's my poor little MGB with a load of paint missing off the rear wing and a small dent.
So I call Hampshire constabulary and tell em what's happened, I say "its half ten, he's just driven out of a pub car park and hit my car, maybe you could pop round, get his insurance details and take the opportunity to breathalyse him", 'yes yes yes' she says, 'please pop to local cop shop to make a statement and take your car documents with you'.
So I go to fill in the form and take tax, mot, insurance and log book with me, she asks for driving licence, I've left it at home as its not one of the cars documents and in any case I was not driving when it happened.
I got issued a 7 day producer, feel a bit peeved as sort of feel like I've done something wrong, but oh well.
I say "dya breathalyse him last night?"
answer "er, nope"
me "oh great, we made the most of that opportunity then"
Took my license to the cop shop with the 7 day producer last night, filled in forms etc.
I say "have you done anything?"
Desk chap says "er, nope".
Exactly what do I pay my council tax and income tax for?
The exact same thing happened to me before - Hit & Run in a pub carpark. The witness told me straight away and said that the guy looked a little pi$$ed
The cops went round to his house but couldn't do anything as the guy was drinking when they got there. The cop told me afterwards that the bloke was sozzled but as he opened the door with a bottle of wine in his hand and protested that he hadn't drunk in the pub but waited until he got home he got away with it
He didn't even get done for leaving the dent and driving off, we had to take care of it all through insurance.
>> Edited by dick dastardly on Thursday 6th November 15:42
The cops went round to his house but couldn't do anything as the guy was drinking when they got there. The cop told me afterwards that the bloke was sozzled but as he opened the door with a bottle of wine in his hand and protested that he hadn't drunk in the pub but waited until he got home he got away with it
He didn't even get done for leaving the dent and driving off, we had to take care of it all through insurance.
>> Edited by dick dastardly on Thursday 6th November 15:42
My lad got carjacked, gave up his immobiliser code with a screwdriver held to his throat. His car was found 2 weeks later, stripped, we found out (won't go into details here)that that the scrote lived in Arbury and we got a name, gave it to the police who confirmed the descriptions fitted that of him and an accomplice. 4 months later (after much phone calling) we get an ID parade scrote misses parade due to family illness. 3 months later my lad is granted a photo ID parade which had pictures of scrotes taken ages ago so obviously my son couldn't identify him.
The reason for the delay? an ID parade officer went on long term sick leave, his replacement did the same so they had to retrain a 3rd officer.
Why didn't we get a physical ID parade? f**k knows, Why didn't they get someone from a different region to do it? f**k knows
I've written to my MP, the Chief Constable and the press, so far nothing. Justice? go whistle.
>> Edited by Apache on Thursday 6th November 16:26
The reason for the delay? an ID parade officer went on long term sick leave, his replacement did the same so they had to retrain a 3rd officer.
Why didn't we get a physical ID parade? f**k knows, Why didn't they get someone from a different region to do it? f**k knows
I've written to my MP, the Chief Constable and the press, so far nothing. Justice? go whistle.
>> Edited by Apache on Thursday 6th November 16:26
dick dastardly said:
The exact same thing happened to me before - Hit & Run in a pub carpark. The witness told me straight away and said that the guy looked a little pi$$ed
The cops went round to his house but couldn't do anything as the guy was drinking when they got there. The cop told me afterwards that the bloke was sozzled but as he opened the door with a bottle of wine in his hand and protested that he hadn't drunk in the pub but waited until he got home he got away with it
He didn't even get done for leaving the dent and driving off, we had to take care of it all through insurance.
>> Edited by dick dastardly on Thursday 6th November 15:42
I have to confess, I have got away with the Exact same thing, having had an accident outside my house while drunk I scarpered inside to get more drunk before the cops arrived so they could not breathalyse me. I did pay for the damage to the other persons car out of my own pocket, but i got away with the actual crime
Disclaimer: I was young and irresponsible back then
huntsman said:
I say "dya breathalyse him last night?"
answer "er, nope"
You didn't say why they didn't breath him. Maybe the car wasn't at the RO address.
All they will do now is NIP the driver i would imagine and take it from there.
As for not being able to breath someone at home after an rtc when they have a bottle in their hand, well that is just rubbish. You can breath them and if they are over you then have to seize the opened bottle etc. It's harder work but you can still do it.
huntsman said:
I got issued a 7 day producer, feel a bit peeved as sort of feel like I've done something wrong, but oh well.
Perhaps the BIB can enlighten me as to why you got issued with that? You were reporting an accident and someone failing to stop. You were doing nothing wrong so therefore they should have been simply interested in finding the other driver?
A very similar thing happened to a friend of mine, we went out on the town (walked), and we returned to the student halls to find my mates MGF had a big dent in it. with the usual reaction to your pride and joy, a call to the police was made, (for once) they actually came round to survey the damage. the car was deliberatly parked under CCTV (which did work and the tapes were recovered), but they proceeded to breathalyse my mate. there was no chance to pass... we were bladdered!, needless to say a strongly worded letter from a solicitor got the drink driving dropped before anything major happened...
to top it all off the car on the tape 'was out of view'??!!! sometimes you wander what we have done!!!
to top it all off the car on the tape 'was out of view'??!!! sometimes you wander what we have done!!!
The Wiz said:
I got issued a 7 day producer, feel a bit peeved as sort of feel like I've done something wrong, but oh well.
Perhaps the BIB can enlighten me as to why you got issued with that? You were reporting an accident and someone failing to stop. You were doing nothing wrong so therefore they should have been simply interested in finding the other driver?
Not that I'm a copper but it would seem fairly logical to check everyone's details that was involved. We hear how car-cloning/tax-dodging/no insurance is on the up & up, so it makes sense when given the opportunity to check everyone? Same as being breathalysed at the scene of an accident whether it was your fault or not (as happened to me when some dozy cow went into the back of ME, I was given a breath test same as she was!!).
In many Forces it is policy to breathalyse anyone involved in an RTA. The law allows it and, if a command level officer says you must do it, then most PCs will do it even in the most ridiculous circumstances as if they don't then they'll get put on report where their excuse will not be listened to. So don't blame the PC.
It is also the norm to obtain the full details of everyone involved in an RTA. This is for Government stats purposes and, as you know, this is the prime responsibility of the police, collecting stats.
As I say, don't blame the poor PC. He's doing something that he has been told to do.
You don't know the half of it.
It is also the norm to obtain the full details of everyone involved in an RTA. This is for Government stats purposes and, as you know, this is the prime responsibility of the police, collecting stats.
As I say, don't blame the poor PC. He's doing something that he has been told to do.
You don't know the half of it.
I was in an accident once where someone jumped a round-about and wrote off my dad's Volvo.
Thankfully he was a decent bloke and waited until my parents arrived (20mins) just so I felt everything was ok. During that time my passenger noted he had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath, call my parents who call the Police and two Vans turn up to the scene.
I was very impressed with them, not only did they speak to us induvidually, tell me all about what would happen (even though my dad knew), they breathalised him, but not me (although they did take me to one side for the "pretend").
All the dealings I have had the police have been fine, I have full respect for the difficult job they do. Although getting raided at 7 in the morning was kinda weird. Especially when they had the wrong house
Thankfully he was a decent bloke and waited until my parents arrived (20mins) just so I felt everything was ok. During that time my passenger noted he had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath, call my parents who call the Police and two Vans turn up to the scene.
I was very impressed with them, not only did they speak to us induvidually, tell me all about what would happen (even though my dad knew), they breathalised him, but not me (although they did take me to one side for the "pretend").
All the dealings I have had the police have been fine, I have full respect for the difficult job they do. Although getting raided at 7 in the morning was kinda weird. Especially when they had the wrong house
Ever so slightly O/T, but two years ago, while in a pub in north London, my jacket and phone were stolen. The were both quite expensive, so I thought I would report it the next day. I knew there was very little chance of ever seeing either item again, but I wanted a crime number for insurance purposes.
So I walked into the police station to be presented with two civilian desk officers sitting chatting. After a few minutes one of them looked up from their cosy chat, seemingly to aknowledge my presence. After a few more minutes of being ignored I waited for a pleasant break in their conversation and said "excuse me". The conversation went like this:
1st civvy: "Yeah"
Me "I'd like to report a theft, please".
2nd civvy: "Whatd'ya mean theft?"
1st civvy: "Yeah, whatd'ya mean theft?"
Me: "I've had my coat and phone stolen"
1st civvy: "So?"
2nd civvy: "There's not a lot we can do about that"
Me: "I need a crime number, please?"
1st civvy: "Where did this, ahem, 'theft' take place?"
Me: "In the Rose & Crown, last night?"
2nd civvy: "Why didn't you report it then?"
Me: "It was chucking out time, I'd had a few beers and I guessed you would have had enough to do at that time, so I waited until now"
1st civvy: "Oh, so you were drunk, were you?"
and so on for about 10 minutes until I finally said:
"oh FFS sake, can I speak to someone with a warrant card who might actually be able to help me?"
whereupon they called a real police officer with what seemed like the intention of asking him to arrest me for using naughty language and asking them to get off their fat arses and do some work instead of annoying a victim of crime. A real police officer duly appeared, spoke to me courteously, dealt with my enquiry efficiently and I went on my way. What was wrong with the two hags behind the counter? They seemed to think that working in a police station made them above everyone. Tw@ts!
So I walked into the police station to be presented with two civilian desk officers sitting chatting. After a few minutes one of them looked up from their cosy chat, seemingly to aknowledge my presence. After a few more minutes of being ignored I waited for a pleasant break in their conversation and said "excuse me". The conversation went like this:
1st civvy: "Yeah"
Me "I'd like to report a theft, please".
2nd civvy: "Whatd'ya mean theft?"
1st civvy: "Yeah, whatd'ya mean theft?"
Me: "I've had my coat and phone stolen"
1st civvy: "So?"
2nd civvy: "There's not a lot we can do about that"
Me: "I need a crime number, please?"
1st civvy: "Where did this, ahem, 'theft' take place?"
Me: "In the Rose & Crown, last night?"
2nd civvy: "Why didn't you report it then?"
Me: "It was chucking out time, I'd had a few beers and I guessed you would have had enough to do at that time, so I waited until now"
1st civvy: "Oh, so you were drunk, were you?"
and so on for about 10 minutes until I finally said:
"oh FFS sake, can I speak to someone with a warrant card who might actually be able to help me?"
whereupon they called a real police officer with what seemed like the intention of asking him to arrest me for using naughty language and asking them to get off their fat arses and do some work instead of annoying a victim of crime. A real police officer duly appeared, spoke to me courteously, dealt with my enquiry efficiently and I went on my way. What was wrong with the two hags behind the counter? They seemed to think that working in a police station made them above everyone. Tw@ts!
A few years back My brother was very nearly killed when turning right into our driveway.
A local lad well known to the plod & very pissed by all accounts overtook him at seriously fast speeds, he collided into my brothers drivers side door. The other car hit two trees (roof first) seriously injuring him & his passenger.
My brother got breathalysed & basically given not a very good time, they assumed it was his fault somehow.
The other guy & his girlfriend both uncontious get taken to hospital in an ambulance, he never got breathalysed or sampled (you cant if your uncontious), witnesses in the local pub had seen him pissed, he got away with it scot free. His girlfreind was in a wheelchair last I heard.
I spose if they can't get the evidence they can't follow it up?
The scars are still on the tree to this day
A local lad well known to the plod & very pissed by all accounts overtook him at seriously fast speeds, he collided into my brothers drivers side door. The other car hit two trees (roof first) seriously injuring him & his passenger.
My brother got breathalysed & basically given not a very good time, they assumed it was his fault somehow.
The other guy & his girlfriend both uncontious get taken to hospital in an ambulance, he never got breathalysed or sampled (you cant if your uncontious), witnesses in the local pub had seen him pissed, he got away with it scot free. His girlfreind was in a wheelchair last I heard.
I spose if they can't get the evidence they can't follow it up?
The scars are still on the tree to this day
docevi1 said:
Although getting raided at 7 in the morning was kinda weird. Especially when they had the wrong house
That happened to a friend of mine. He was in bed asleep with his girlfriend when there was an almighty crash from downstairs. Before he had time to do anything a spaniel joined them in bed. Shortly afterwards followed by a police officer appearing at the bedroom door.
PoliceOfficer "What you doing here Nick?"
Nick "I live here"
Police Officer "When did you move in"
Nick "Yesterday"
Police Officer " S*** we were suppossed to have this house under surveillance!"
To me fair to the police the house was at the end of a private drive with only 2 houeses in it. Nicks parent lived in the other one and he moved from there into the rented one next door!
cptsideways said:
A few years back My brother was very nearly killed when turning right into our driveway.
A local lad well known to the plod & very pissed by all accounts overtook him at seriously fast speeds, he collided into my brothers drivers side door. The other car hit two trees (roof first) seriously injuring him & his passenger.
My brother got breathalysed & basically given not a very good time, they assumed it was his fault somehow.
The other guy & his girlfriend both uncontious get taken to hospital in an ambulance, he never got breathalysed or sampled (you cant if your uncontious), witnesses in the local pub had seen him pissed, he got away with it scot free. His girlfreind was in a wheelchair last I heard.
I spose if they can't get the evidence they can't follow it up?
The scars are still on the tree to this day
What happened to a blood test then?
tigers6 said:
A very similar thing happened to a friend of mine, we went out on the town (walked), and we returned to the student halls to find my mates MGF had a big dent in it. with the usual reaction to your pride and joy, a call to the police was made, (for once) they actually came round to survey the damage. the car was deliberatly parked under CCTV (which did work and the tapes were recovered), but they proceeded to breathalyse my mate. there was no chance to pass... we were bladdered!, needless to say a strongly worded letter from a solicitor got the drink driving dropped before anything major happened...
to top it all off the car on the tape 'was out of view'??!!! sometimes you wander what we have done!!!
Sounds ok breathing your mate. The police at the time of the call might not be able to tell that he hadn't been driving .Futher enq's would reveal that.
As for giving details when u report an rtc. Everyone has to. If u don't have them on u then you get a nip. That's just how it works. Everyone get's treated the same as regards the docs.
>> Edited by 318ti on Saturday 8th November 15:59
if the plod didn't investigate at all ( ie didn't go round and see the guy ), and he obviously didn't make any attempt to pass on his details to you at the scence of the accident, and didn't report the accident to the police within 24hrs, he could be prosecuted for failing to report an accident.
the penalty for this is ( kerching! ) a ban.
the penalty for this is ( kerching! ) a ban.
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