Scary incident this afternoon.

[BSRU]

Lack of evidence? Eh? What about the video footage?

+1
I suppose when the driver actually kills or seriously injures someone they might take it a little more seriously.

 

[2Loose]

All they would have to do if they were bothered is to use the car in fronts registration to get another witness. I doubt that they would forget about that incident!

 

[BentMikey]

I'd want to push them further to prosecute on that one, that's just not acceptable.

 

[dawesome]

It's there, on the footage, the evidence is there! If lack of evidence was a problem what steps have the cops taken to GET independent witnesses?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

All too typical. "Another bolshy cyclist complaining when no one was actually hurt" will be the canteen reasoning imo.

 

[BentMikey]

Yes, not only the video footage, but the driver of the other car. I'd want to push for a traffic officer to see this, and perhaps ask Roadsafe about this decision as it just doesn't seem at all reasonable. Perhaps Roadsafe will be willing to push the officer handling it to put it forwards for prosecution since Roadsafe are almost all motorcycle traffic officers.

 

[BentMikey]

p.s. was your letter from the Sidcup Traffic Justice unit?

 

[ComedyPilot]

We have 2 serving police officers who both advised to go for it, and I also would say that is as clear cut a traffic offence as you will get. Oh well, if they won't play ball the nice way, time to go viral, and copy The Times in on it.

 

[benborp]

p.s. was your letter from the Sidcup Traffic Justice unit?

Yup. I've had quite intense dealings with them in the past and found it hard work. A lot depends on which individual you end up in dialogue with. Following an extremely serious incident I was involved in trying to find out why the investigation was effectively dropped and how all the information from the investigation had apparently disappeared. Croydon Police station, Traffic Criminal Justice at Sidcup, the CPS all pointed at each other. An IPCC investigation found faults - the relevant superior officers didn't accept the IPCC's findings and threatened to withdraw any co-operation in the civil case for compensation. We have to concentrate on that at the moment and we're now dealing with an insurance company (who have backed out of their obligations set out by the ombudsman of the industry's pre-settlement arbitration scheme) who can say that if their driver had been responsible the police would have prosecuted. Fortunately an accident investigation file and witness statements have now turned up (too late for effective prosecution) and are damning. Our very experienced solicitor is astounded at how poor the response has been from the police, the worst in her thirty years of experience, and once the case with the insurance company is settled will be launching another action against the police.

 

[benborp]

We have 2 serving police officers who both advised to go for it, and I also would say that is as clear cut a traffic offence as you will get. Oh well, if they won't play ball the nice way, time to go viral, and copy The Times in on it.

I am inclined to do something like this rather than push for my original allegation to be reconsidered. Mainly because I'm in a foul mood regarding road safety at the moment. The incident I mention above is with me constantly and has a profound effect on my life, I wasn't the person injured, but the type of injuries involved change the dynamics of a family completely. I spent two hours in the small hours of Friday morning keeping a woman stable as the fire brigade removed the roof from her car (she's out of hospital and fine). Over the last three days I've encountered some astounding stupidity on the roads and I don't have the time to follow them all up. Especially when this is the usual response. (Generally my threshold for reporting an incident is at the point where Roadsafe ask me to attend a police station and make a statement). I've got the opportunity to make a fuss as some of my footage has already been used in the Times' campaign and I have other media contacts.

 

[heppy]

Absolutely shocked with the attitude of the police here, people should be held accountable for making such ludicrous decisions.

Disgusted

 

[ComedyPilot]

BTW I (and a number of others) have retweeted this in the hope of getting it viral. I also copied TheTimes in on it. I don't want trouble for the police, but I would like to think the driver of that vehicle should answer for their actions.

 

[benborp]

Thanks ComedyPilot. Part of my reasoning for posting the video on-line in the first place was in case of a situation like this. Gaining as wide an audience as possible if the police should choose to do nothing is part of the plan.

 

[her_welshness]

Have you got a hashtag to go with it Comedy Pilot?

 

[Glow worm]

I wonder if the police are just lazy, stupid, incompetent or a combination of all three. A note on the driver's file will I'm sure mean a lot to the family of whoever that insane scumbag eventually maims or kills. Totally unbelievable.