Operation Crackdown - Sussex Police version of Roadsafe

[Matt_Sheffield]

Does anyone have any experience of Operation Crackdown? http://www.operationcrackdown.org/ It would seem to be Sussex Polices version of the London Roadsafe scheme. Me recent experience hasn't been very good.

I reported this video -
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_sB4Sp19Zc
- which is of a driver overtaking a cyclist in the oposite carriageway and coming straight at us!

I reported it last weekend (7th August) and haven't heard anything, I phoned up the police number this morning with the crime number and this is how it went:

Them "The details have been passed onto Operation Crackdown"
Me "Oh, do you know if I should expect to hear from them?"
Them "I'm not sure, they deal with these things"
Me "Have you closed the case?"
Them "Yes we have, we do when we pass it to Operation Crackdown"

Next call to Operation Crackdown

Me "Here's the crime number I was given when I reported this"
Them "We can't use that reference... Name, location, date please"
Me "Details... Can you tell me what has happened with this incident, has it been reviewed?"
Them "I'm not sure, I'll speak to someone else"
...
Them "It has been reviewed and no action will be taken but the incident has been logged"
Me "By no action, does that include not letting me know this decision"
Them "Yes"
Me "Do you let people who report these things know the outcome"
Them "No"


So... Should I take from this that its a waste of time reporting bad driving in Sussex? The crime reference was closed as soon as I reported it! If this sort of incident doesn't even warrant a letter or a call from a police officer then I struggle to see what sort of bad driving would.

 

[Alun]

Too busy kicking rioters doors in !

 

[gaz]

Us londoners rarely get anything bar the standard 'we have received your complaint and will contact you if we need any more information' response from Road Safe.

Although they would take this one seriously, i hope.

 

[Matt_Sheffield]

Us londoners rarely get anything bar the standard 'we have received your complaint and will contact you if we need any more information' response from Road Safe.

Although they would take this one seriously, i hope.

Interesting... perhaps these schemes aren't something to be desired then. Last time I reported something up here the local police officer came round for a visit, went around to the drivers house and had a word (only a couple of days after the report).

 

[BSRU]

Surely that sort of driving deserves a visit.

I thought the point of these reporting systems was to allow Police to filter the fluff and concentrate on bad driving as shown in the video.

 

[d87heaven]

It may be the case that a vehicle is logged and then any further reports lead to a letter etc. It also may flag up banned/uninsured drivers etc. Of course it may also just be filed under 'b' for bin.

 

[Lurker]

"Once your report is submitted, the administrators have several protocols and processes to adhere to before deciding an appropriate course of action. Not every report will generate an action by the police. This is dependant on whether the incident reported: is of a serious nature, the vehicle is the subject of previous reports, or whether the driver falls into a category of drivers who pose the greatest risk of causing a collision on the roads of Sussex. Nothing happened after I contacted Operation Crackdown. It may take some time for us to act on the information you have given. There may be reasons for this – the information may be crucial to a larger investigation and an action may take place later on, or the information may remain within the database for the 12 month period providing a history of the vehicle and allegations. So even if you don’t see a swift resolution, don’t think that your information has not been of use to Operation Crackdown." https://webcontact.sussex.police.uk/asdprs/Default.aspx Well clearly this should generate "an action by the police" - it doesn't get much more serious than nearly killing someone as this driver chose to do....

 

[davefb]

no wonder that wing mirror is already damaged..




is it me, or after seeing the hand gesture has he moved over more ?

 

[the snail]

You say the vehicle wasn't on the insurance database, so why can't the police follow this up, it can't be that difficult?

 

[rusky]

I have reported 2 incidents on op cracdown, both the same vehicle, never heard anything back.

 

[manalog]

I have reported 2 incidents on op cracdown, both the same vehicle, never heard anything back.

I have reported 2 Incidents on Roadsafe on the same Vehicle, I have not heard anything back. Not really sure if they are doing anything with the info.

 

[daSmirnov]

Excuse the thread resurrection, was just searching for info on how OC works on the interwebs without much luck, and this thread came up so I'll report my findings. I've reported a few things to them over the months. Largely mobile phone use, as that's easy and clear cut to see on video (usually).

So I get an e-mail to say the report has been received, and then a day or two later I normally get a stock response e-mail back that says no action will be taken at this time... Details will be kept in their database for 12 months. bla bla bla...

The first time I got a response back saying a letter had been sent to the registered keeper was after I had reported a driver twice in two successive days. This guy must be super unlucky to drive past me twice in two days both times on the phone.

Day 1:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fgQC0oVTZY
Day 2:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gThzkD7oVR8


This makes me think they need a minimum of two reports to even look at anything/do anything.

However the other day I include a video that was bang on crystal clear

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWlqyIQglHI


That generates another letter being sent out to the registered keeper.

Maybe someone had already reported them in the last 12 months? Maybe the video was high enough quality they could see without doubt they were using the phone.

But then for all I know they can't even view YouTube footage and my attempt at figuring out what's going on behind the scenes to make best use of my time is entirely pointless.

 

[rusky]

It's my understanding that they don't do anything unless the vehicle is reported twice, although I don't know in what period.

Saying that, I reported a driver twice in two weeks for a dangerously close pass & heard nothing.

 

[BentMikey]

Ignore the no-response by police. That's a stupid policy, and a big own-goal by them. It doesn't mean nothing is happening, far from it.

This playlist shows that people are being contacted as a result of reports, and that some of them will comment on their own videos:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL026F1DD033C30049

OK, that's Roadsafe, but when you have a sufficiently large selection of reports you start to get an idea of what is likely to generate a police warning letter.

 

[daSmirnov]

Another letter sent out to someone else on the phone (my first report at least).

A letter of advice has been sent to the registered keeper.

Another driver I reported for speeding and passing too close however returned:

This is the first time the vehicle has come to notice, so no further action will be taken at this time, however the report will be retained on our system for twelve months in case of any further reports.

I'd love to see a copy of one of the letters they send out.