Swindon Rammer Final Update

[Banjo]

I think if the van driver chased another motorist then crashed into the back of their car it would have been taken seriously.

 

[BSRU]

The expectations of prosecutions from video footage is sometimes slightly too high. Not saying that is the case here. But it really needs to be clear cut before it is going to go to court.

I've had plenty of stuff which has gone down the route of FPN's or a letter to the driver about their bad driving. It's easier and quicker for everyone and gets a good result.

I had not expected a prosecution, it's not worth the courts time but I did at least expect a written formal warning.
The incident last October that resulted in the driver being given a written warning for careless driving was less serious than this one and certainly less clear cut.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I had not expected a prosecution, it's not worth the courts time but I did at least expect a written formal warning.
The incident last October that resulted in the driver being given a written warning for careless driving was less serious than this one and certainly less clear cut.

Bottom line "The copper who dealt with you is a knob end"

 

[gb155]

Bottom line "The copper who dealt with you is a knob end"

+1

 

[Wankelschrauben]

I can believe the attitude of the officer, not because I agree with him but because that is the kind of response I got when I was knocked off.

 

[gambatte]

The fact that the driver stopped, reversed and altered his direction of travel to deliberately confront the op, regardless of anything the OP may or may not have done is grounds for him having his collar felt, he is driving a 2 tonne vehicle compared to a 30lb bike!

<Trainspotter mode ON>

I believe you'll find that particular vehicle is closer to 3.3 tonnes, although I am willing to be corrected.

<Trainspotter mode OFF>

 

[classic33]

This sort of response seems to be worryingly common. I would go to the IPCC - in fact I would have asked the policeman there and then if I could have the statement he was making to me in writing.

If you can get a contact email/address for the Chief Constable, it may be worth sending him a copy of the same letter you send to the IPCC as well.

For contacting the police force in question.

http://www.wiltshire.police.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3234&Itemid=701

Its odd how this attitude of not investigating such incidents appears to be common across the police. Simply because one of the vehicles involved was a pedal cycle.

Been there had this & more done to me, by the police, I think I can see your point. What the IPCC will do is either refer your complaint back to the force involved, for them to investigate. Or get you to make the complaint in writing to the police force involved. Either way you will have to await their final response before the IPCC can look into your complaint. That is unless the police force involved doesn't want to register a complaint. Thats a whole new issue.

Be prepared for a wait though.

 

[gaz]

I had not expected a prosecution, it's not worth the courts time but I did at least expect a written formal warning.
The incident last October that resulted in the driver being given a written warning for careless driving was less serious than this one and certainly less clear cut.

I just want to make sure that you know my comment was a general comment and was in no way about this incident or you.

 

[CopperCyclist]

My advice, if you want to take it further is this: don't write to the IPCC, they'll quickly downgrade this, its not really their remit as nothing serious enough. Effectively its a quality of service issue, not a misuse of public office, or police action that has led to death/serious injury. Don't write to the Chief Constable, he'll probably not be overly bothered about a minor traffic offence when hes trying to deal with what cuts he can make. Write to the Chief Superintendant of the station that the officer came from. He is most likely to have the time to read you letter, the reasons to care about it, and the power to do something.

My letter would be along these lines:

Dear Sir,

writing about my dissappointment . . . involved in an assault where a driver used vehicle . . . accept not injured/damaged but the potential consequences . . . the video is accesible here if you wish to see it . . .your officer dealt and said this at scene.

Recently had final update . . . officer made me feel like I was a villian . . . massively hit my confidence in police . . . I can accept his decision not to prosecute, not my intention, but am horrified that he feels the assault on me was justified and that I was 'lucky I didn't get worse' . . . WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST MY CRIME NUMBER PLEASE . . . considering taking further legal advice, but wished you to review the matter first.

...................

The bit aout crime number is in capitals because as VikeonaBike said, it was common assault. If the officer has written it off as a non injury RTC he'll have been able to get rid of it with a supervisor never having seen it.

Now, don't get me wrong here. I can reasons why this may never reach court, but for me the shocking thing is the attitude of the police officer. I would write the letter as I wold simply want a supervisor to review his work and make sure that what he told you is ow he wrote it off, because I suspect isn't.

 

[Vikeonabike]

Also, the document the police are supposed to use.

Police Training Doc

The Police aren't supposed to use any Cycle Training, infact some forces do, some don't. Of those that do, it's only a small proportion (those using bikes on a regular basis) that do Police Specific training.





I've been pushing Cambridgeshire for 4 years now and have finally given up!

 

[ClichéGuevara]

Seems clear to me. According to the Policeman and his colleagues, if a vehicle on the road is in your way and you think they're in the wrong position, ramming it is a perfectly justified option.

That'd make the middle lane hoggers on a motorway wake up.


How do these clowns pass an entrance test?

 

[XmisterIS]

BSRU - Are the police in your county from another era?! Let's say ... 30 years ago?!!

 

[BSRU]

I just want to make sure that you know my comment was a general comment and was in no way about this incident or you.

I did understand, although that is not too clear from my response.

 

[davefb]

Now, don't get me wrong here. I can reasons why this may never reach court, but for me the shocking thing is the attitude of the police officer. I would write the letter as I wold simply want a supervisor to review his work and make sure that what he told you is ow he wrote it off, because I suspect isn't.

the more I think about it, the more it just amazes....

hasn't he effectively condoned an assualt which DID take place ( and could have been far worse ) and at least has some evidence, by saying it was 'justified' by an action which has no evidence whatsoever?

which is essentially saying 'road rage is acceptable' ?


the reference to 'should keep in the gutter' is pretty staggering as well. shouldn't an officer at least use a reference to an road traffic act or at least a page in the highway code? Isn't this akin to telling a victim of assault 'well, you were asking for it' ?

 

[BSRU]

My advice, if you want to take it further is this: don't write to the IPCC, they'll quickly downgrade this, its not really their remit as nothing serious enough. Effectively its a quality of service issue, not a misuse of public office, or police action that has led to death/serious injury. Don't write to the Chief Constable, he'll probably not be overly bothered about a minor traffic offence when hes trying to deal with what cuts he can make. Write to the Chief Superintendant of the station that the officer came from. He is most likely to have the time to read you letter, the reasons to care about it, and the power to do something.

My letter would be along these lines:

Dear Sir,

writing about my dissappointment . . . involved in an assault where a driver used vehicle . . . accept not injured/damaged but the potential consequences . . . the video is accesible here if you wish to see it . . .your officer dealt and said this at scene.

Recently had final update . . . officer made me feel like I was a villian . . . massively hit my confidence in police . . . I can accept his decision not to prosecute, not my intention, but am horrified that he feels the assault on me was justified and that I was 'lucky I didn't get worse' . . . WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST MY CRIME NUMBER PLEASE . . . considering taking further legal advice, but wished you to review the matter first.

...................

The bit aout crime number is in capitals because as VikeonaBike said, it was common assault. If the officer has written it off as a non injury RTC he'll have been able to get rid of it with a supervisor never having seen it.

Now, don't get me wrong here. I can reasons why this may never reach court, but for me the shocking thing is the attitude of the police officer. I would write the letter as I wold simply want a supervisor to review his work and make sure that what he told you is ow he wrote it off, because I suspect isn't.

Is it possible to explain a term "decision maker", the officer stated he sent the information he had put together to a "decision maker" who had made the decision to not proceed with any further action.