Is it worth going to the press?

[KnackeredBike]

About the useless people at Thames Valley Police?

At the start of March, buried in a thread somewhere here, I got knocked off my bike by someone who decided to try and floor it out of a parking space rather than letting me pass.

I was carried to the side of the road by two bystanders. After initially refusing to give details he gave me false details and then drove off, leaving me injured and in pain on the pavement. Luckily I had a witness and so I reported it, with his correct details the next day to police.

After initially refusing to sign the form they sent him, he has admitted all of this. Nothing is disputed.

The police have decided to have "stern words" (their words) with him but take no further action. I even queried this by email and they have said they think it is a reasonable course of action.

Basically, "We don't care about cyclists and we don't pretend to care about cyclists".

I am debating going to the press because I think it is an absolute joke. I can understand using discretion about the driving, we all make mistakes. But he made a conscious decision to be dishonest, and displayed an absolute lack of care leaving someone he had injured at the side of the road.

I'm happy to do it if it would potentially improve the response other cyclists get from the police in future. But I'm not sure if it would be throwing good time after bad. Thoughts welcome.

 

[Drago]

Have you lodged a complaint? If the situation I'd as you described there are several offences for which the driver could be prosecuted.

You have the right to have the decision reviewed by an Inspector unconnected with the case. If its a CPS decision, which I doubt, you have the right of appeal to them too.

Going from the account you've presented, the decision is at odds with points 3, 5 and 6 of their crime and policing plan for 2017.

I doubt the press would care, and if they did it changes nothing.

 

[classic33]

Make a formal complaint to the force concerned. Starts with the Duty Inspector at any of their stations.

 

[MacB]

Start a private prosecution and copy in the police and local press, then see how quickly they respond in a more pro-active manner

 

[KnackeredBike]

I emailed the address for the Chief Constable, maybe they just fob you off if you don't do it in person.

Dear Chief Constable,

I was injured in a bike accident on Cowley Road on the 3rd March 2017 where a car pulled out of a parking space into my path and ran me over. My bike was badly damaged and I am still on medication to control the pain.

The driver stopped and, under pressure, gave a fake registration number. He then drove off leaving me injured at the side of the road.

Luckily I managed to obtain the correct registration number and witness details and provided these next day at the police station.

My understanding is that, after identifying the driver, none of this is in dispute. However, the officer called me to say that he had decided to give "stern words" to the driver. In my view the driver was both careless, dishonest and broke the law. Stern words simply aren't sufficient.

The impression I got from the police is that they don't care about cyclists, and don't pretend to care. We are vulnerable road users and letting motorists "get away with it" damages already fragile confidences.

I would appreciate your feedback on the above, thank you for your time.

Kind regards,

KB

Dear KB

I have been passed your email below. I have had a look at the case that we have on our system and can see that you had spoken with Andrew Mott, one of our Enquiry Officers.

When you made the report to police, a Notice of Intended Prosecution was sent to the registered keeper of the other vehicle. This was responded to, confirming the driver, along with an explanation from the driver.

The file was reviewed by a Process Officer and a statement request sent to yourself and to the witnesses. To date, none of these statements have been returned

The driver admits to being there and that a collision took place, but says he did stop and attempted to call the police, but that you advised him it was not required.

Due to this, and with no witness statements to support either party, it was decided that a conversation with the driver would be had and advice passed around their duties when involved in a collision.

This will remain on our system and so should they be involved in another incident, we will see that this incident had taken place.

I hope this helps to explain why we have taken the action we have. Please do contact me if you wish to discuss further

Kind regards,

Mr Rozzer

Dear Mr Rozzer,

Apologies for the delayed reply, I have been very busy. Please can you clarify two points.

Firstly, I filled out a statement on the day after the accident at Abingdon police station. I then filled out an almost identical statement that was sent to me in the post. So you have two statements from me, I assume the second one was received as you have not sent a reminder letter or phoned me to query it.

Certainly on the phone the officer did not say they had not received a statement from me, which would seem a fairly important thing to say.

Secondly, I provided witness details at Abingdon after the accident. My understanding from speaking to the officer over the phone was that they had contacted her and she had given a statement. Again if you had not contacted her it would surely be important to tell me to check the phone number was correct?

I don't think it is fair to not actually chase any statements and then use a lack of statements as justification for not taking any further action. I would appreciate your response.

Kind regards,

KB

Still waiting for a reply to email #2.

 

[classic33]

Nice, but they can say correct proceedure was not followed by you when making a complaint.

You have both the incident and collision numbers I'm assuming?

 

[Slick]

I know that dealing with instances like this can be very frustrating, but I would ask that you did take it further as I think the time has come that more drivers were held to account for their actions before there are more serious accidents.

 

[NorthernDave]

Doubt the press would be hugely interested at this stage.

You might have more luck with the forces own professional standards department?

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

[QUOTE 4863770, member: 43827"]

...(or killed!).[/QUOTE]

I think we're safe to assume that he's not been killed, unless he's posting from beyond the grave

 

[KnackeredBike]

I live in a University town with a couple of friends at the local rag, any cyclist article is basically "clickbait" for them so could have it in future chip papers in a second if needed. Not that that would necessarily be productive.

I still take paracetomol due to pain on my left side (I work a very physical job so haven't been able to give it a "rest" to heal and I can't take anti-inflammatories, which is what is probably needed). I think pulled muscles or similar, annoying more than debilitating.

I have very little faith in the police in general, especially around anything motorist vs cyclist. So I highly doubt they will do more than a cursory investigation but I suppose I need to give them a chance. The fact they have made out I didn't give a statement is really annoying though, basically pathetic excuse #1 of what I don't doubt will be further excuses.

 

[bozmandb9]

I live in a University town with a couple of friends at the local rag, any cyclist article is basically "clickbait" for them so could have it in future chip papers in a second if needed. Not that that would necessarily be productive.

I still take paracetomol due to pain on my left side (I work a very physical job so haven't been able to give it a "rest" to heal and I can't take anti-inflammatories, which is what is probably needed). I think pulled muscles or similar, annoying more than debilitating.

I have very little faith in the police in general, especially around anything motorist vs cyclist. So I highly doubt they will do more than a cursory investigation but I suppose I need to give them a chance. The fact they have made out I didn't give a statement is really annoying though, basically pathetic excuse #1 of what I don't doubt will be further excuses.

Are you not a member of BC, or do you have any other insurance? If so simply report it to your insurers and he'll be held to account.

 

[KnackeredBike]

Are you not a member of BC, or do you have any other insurance? If so simply report it to your insurers and he'll be held to account.

I have his insurance details but having to go through legal firm (Wiggle Legal) because of course although he's admitted the collision to the police he has denied it to his insurance company so everything is going glacially slow. I have forked out for bike repairs and lost a good agency contract because I had to cancel shifts at the last moment, which I doubt I will get compensated for.

 

[vickster]

I have his insurance details but having to go through legal firm (Wiggle Legal) because of course although he's admitted the collision to the police he has denied it to his insurance company so everything is going glacially slow. I have forked out for bike repairs and lost a good agency contract because I had to cancel shifts at the last moment, which I doubt I will get compensated for.

Make sure you get a record of the lost shifts for the solicitor. Going through similar myself, had to postpone a new contract for two weeks due to surgery

Surely the police statement where he admits the collision should be provided to your solicitor and in turn his?

 

[KnackeredBike]

Make sure you get a record of the lost shifts for the solicitor. Going through similar myself, had to postpone a new contract for two weeks due to surgery

Surely the police statement where he admits the collision should be provided to your solicitor and in turn his?

The problem with agency work is the good locations can be choosy about who they use, I haven't "lost" many shifts but I have effectively had a big pay cut due to lower hourly rates and loss of bonuses that I am only just now getting back four months later. If you fall off the treadmill it takes a while to clamber back on.

But of course that is not something easily quantifiable to an insurance company so I doubt I can claim much of it back.

 

[Globalti]

Didn't you take photographs or photocopies of your two statements?