Hit and run - Police not interested.

[E55BOF]

"I think it's simpler than that - they're just not interested because its too hard for them to solve."

That argument is self-defeating. No solving is required in a non-injury RTA where both sides have the other's details. They're "not interested" because they have to prioritise the inadequate resources they have, and a minor RTA in which no-one was injured simply does not rate high enough on the scale of priorities.

 

[Rob77]

I wasn't aware we were discussing a non-injury RTA where both sides have the other's details.

 

[E55BOF]

If you have the registration of the other vehicle involved, you have enough to obtain the other driver's full details. You (or your insurers) are in a position to pursue the matter if you wish to do so. My point is that where there are no injuries, the police will not normally take further action because they have to allocate their (inadequate) resources to best effect.

I, too, would be furious if I were the aggrieved party, and I, too, would like to see it otherwise, but it is not. I intend no disrespect to BruceMillar, and ISTR the offender in his case had no tax, or (much more seriously) insurance, and carried on driving in that condition, but if we all contacted our local Police Commissioner to press for official action for every minor RTA where we perceived we were in the right (before anyone opens fire, I make no suggestion that any of the other posters were not), the resources would have to come from somewhere. It is unfair to criticise the police for failing to act; they are piggy-in-the-middle.

 

[E55BOF]

If you have the registration of the other vehicle involved, you have enough to obtain the other driver's full details. You (or your insurers) are in a position to pursue the matter if you wish to do so. My point is that where there are no injuries, the police will not normally take further action because they have to allocate their (inadequate) resources to best effect.

I, too, would be furious if I were the aggrieved party, and I, too, would like to see it otherwise, but it is not. I intend no disrespect to BruceMillar, and ISTR the offender in his case had no tax, or (much more seriously) insurance, and carried on driving in that condition, but if we all contacted our local Police Commissioner to press for official action for every minor RTA where we perceived we were in the right, the resources would have to come from somewhere. It is unfair to criticise the police for failing to act; they are piggy-in-the-middle.

 

[Rob77]

It is unfair to criticise the police for failing to act

Sorry, but the police enforce the law and if anyone feels that isn't happening then I'd say they are right to complain.

If there is a problem with police funding that's not for the victim to resolve.

If you put a car into a garage for a service and it doesn't get serviced (but you get charged) because of a problem the garage had with its bank you wouldn't blame the bank now would you.

Or are you suggesting the police are insolvent, which they would be if they are carrying on business whilst being in no position to pay for the means to do so?

 

[Scott_F]

It is unfair to criticise the police for failing to act; they are piggy-in-the-middle.

Then they would be wise to stop getting involved with the endless 'interceptor-roadcops-with-camera' programmes which portray them as being super-efficient and leaving no stone unturned as they drive car criminals and bad drivers from our roads.

The truth is that far too many people feel let down by the reality of their disinterested attitude and useless performance.

 

[E55BOF]

If there is a problem with police funding that's not for the victim to resolve.

You could take the same view of pretty much everything every public sector organisation fails to do because of lack of resources. You may not have noticed, but there's a shortage of money in the public purse. You could equally well blame the public for failing to pay enough tax, but how many of us would vote for tax increases? Not many, I suspect.

I'm not sure what your point is, Scott F. I've never seen the various 'cops-with-cameras' programmes as more than a PR exercise, and the police certainly don't come across as being super-efficient in them; not to me, anyway.

"The truth is that far too many people feel let down by the reality of their disinterested attitude and useless performance."

You are entitled to your view; it's not mine. There are poor performers, lead-swingers, jobsworths and uninterested wastes of space in every organisation, not just the police, but I suggest that, as in every organisation, the majority are just trying to do the job as well as they can. Sadly but inevitably, if there isn't funding for everything, some things have to be left undone. For the police, most non-injury minor RTAs are one of those things.

And no, I'm not a copper, but I know a few.

 

[Scott_F]

I'm not sure what your point is, Scott F. I've never seen the various 'cops-with-cameras' programmes as more than a PR exercise, and the police certainly don't come across as being super-efficient in them; not to me, anyway.

I think you're correct - these programmes are a PR exercise.

And my point is that the reality for too many people is rather different.

You never see the police on such programmes telling people that it's not a police matter; that there's nothing they can do; not bothering their backside to turn up; taking days to turn up; showing little interest if they do turn up etc. etc. etc.

 

[E55BOF]

Well, no; they only show good PR. Would anyone expect it to be different?