Hit and Run "minor cycle accident "

[gaz]

OP

Have you tweeted the Met Police, with video, and asked whether they deem that response to be satisfactory?

It might sound funny, but making the matter public will engage the police quicker than a complaint via email would do - particularly if a few of the more vocal cyclists on Twitter get hold of it.

His attitude was almost as bad as the drivers in my opinion.

Depends who you e-mail

 

[campbellab]

The police officer was presented with no evidence that a collision requiring the driver to stop had taken place. No evident injury. No evident damage.

How is the risk very obvious that it was an uninsured driver?

The persons statement would be evidence. Just like a 999 call saying someone is trying to murder me should be evidence enough to get them out.

 

[dodd82]

Depends who you e-mail

Friends in high places?!

 

[Sara_H]

The police officer was presented with no evidence that a collision requiring the driver to stop had taken place. No evident injury. No evident damage.

How is the risk very obvious that it was an uninsured driver?

Not stricty true, the first piece of evidence was that a report was being made. That is usually enough to warrant a proper response, which wasn't given in this case.
.
There was obviously risk that it was an uninsured driver as she was refusing to stop and give details as required by law. They will not be uninsured in every case, but no one but a fool would rule that out as a very strong possibility in these circumstances. Any self respecting policeman would have found this suspicious.

 

[Cycling Dan]

The police officer was presented with no evidence that a collision requiring the driver to stop had taken place. No evident injury. No evident damage.

How is the risk very obvious that it was an uninsured driver?

The officer could have done some work and tried to determine if the story was correct. Even then the report that gives him reasonable suspicion to pull her over, so with that he can pull the motorists over and do a quick check. I still think with the fact she didn't stop there is more too it. On the most part normal people don't drive off. With a quick check it could turn out she doesn't have A-Z . Nothing wrong with checking it out.
Poor performance from the police officer.

 

[Schneil]

It happens up North as well.
http://road.cc/content/news/93155-cyclist-good-luck-finding-me”-incident-tells-his-story

Also I was hit by a driver that refused to stop in October 2011. I reported it to the (Greater Manchester) Police who got me the drivers details, but not insurance details. They can't for reasons of data protection. However you can report it to your insurance company, who in turn should be able to get you the driver's insurance details (if that makes sense?)

I didn't pursue my October 11 collision further as I was ininjured, and the front wheel needed trueing. However thinking back, I should have put a claim in as the wheel cost me time and money. Why should the driver have got away scot free?

 

[Schneil]

At the lights, what if the OP had sat on her bonnet and reused to move, until the driver coughed up details?

 

[Sara_H]

At the lights, what if the OP had sat on her bonnet and reused to move, until the driver coughed up details?

Wouldn't cahnce it myself, I wouldn't trust them not to just drive off.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

The persons statement would be evidence. Just like a 999 call saying someone is trying to murder me should be evidence enough to get them out.

Actually nothing at all like a 999 call reporting an actual attempted murder.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Not stricty true, the first piece of evidence was that a report was being made. That is usually enough to warrant a proper response, which wasn't given in this case.
.
There was obviously risk that it was an uninsured driver as she was refusing to stop and give details as required by law. They will not be uninsured in every case, but no one but a fool would rule that out as a very strong possibility in these circumstances. Any self respecting policeman would have found this suspicious.

A report of a crime is not evidence of a crime. The cyclist has evidence, all the evidence he needs, on his helmet cam. Which he can present to a traffic officer at his local nick, rather than some passing by plod in a van whose business isn't traffic.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

... rather than some passing by plod in a van whose business isn't traffic.

A cop's a cop. Any uniformed officer could have handled that situation, traffic offences aren't exclusive to traffic cops.

GC

 

[Sara_H]

A report of a crime is not evidence of a crime. The cyclist has evidence, all the evidence he needs, on his helmet cam. Which he can present to a traffic officer at his local nick, rather than some passing by plod in a van whose business isn't traffic.

Clearly best dealt with by the officer at the scene, reducing the risk of flight. A report does form part but not all of the evidence. But whatever, you're obviously prepared to fight to the death over this one. I can't be bothered. Knock yerself out.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

A cop's a cop. Any uniformed officer could have handled that situation, traffic offences aren't exclusive to traffic cops.

GC

In my experience of cycle related incidents you need a traffic cop if you want owt done, and that is the advice I've been given by three serving police officers (One Met, one Surrey, one Sussex) I'm related to, plus at least three others I'm mates with.

EDIT: Our local reporting scheme is staffed by traffic specialists.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Clearly best dealt with by the officer at the scene, reducing the risk of flight. A report does form part but not all of the evidence. But whatever, you're obviously prepared to fight to the death over this one. I can't be bothered. Knock yerself out.

The officer didn't witness the collision and wasn't at the scene. He's going to end up in a "he said she said" debate between a cyclist and a motorist, neither of whom are injured, neither of whom have property that is damaged. He probably had more important priorities.

 

[dodd82]

You are probably correct in everything you say, Greg, but that doesn't mean that his behaviour was 'right'.

Is it so much to ask of a police officer to at least try and help?

If nothing else, he could have calmed the situation and explained to the cyclist how best to report the incident.

In an age where police officers get a rough time and have serious pr issues, taking the time to help a road user that claims to have just been hit is a reasonable expectation, in my opinion.

I also think that this situation could easily have escalated. If that was a young man driving, for example, might his patience with a cyclist shouting at him been pushed to the limit? Might this have turned into assault, with or without the vehicle?

I think the police officer could and should have done more.