Question for Plodd...

[GSMGuy]

Tonight, whilst on way back from Manchester, was in outside lane of M57, during (busy) peak hour and match traffic..... Was doing approx 70, keeping good distance from car in front, at the same time, stil passing slower traffic in lane 2..... Noticed a grey 306 rather close to my rear end, and getting closer, but as there was slower traffic in lane 2, not much I could do - This guy looked agitated, weaving his head from side to side to see if he could get past me... Obviously, he couldn't so we continued for about 3 miles, during which he backed off a little, not a lot, but just enough for me to see his reg (he was that close!) I was quite urprised to see it was actually a car I had owned from new!! A 2000 Peugeot 306 Dturbo HDI - I was surprised, as when I last saw it, it was being pulled onto the back of a recovery wagon, after I had just been severly hit by a Discovery that pulled out in front of me....

Car was 11 months old at the time, and was on lease, so insurers replaced it witha new one when it was written off, apparently Cat "b"

Anyway, after 3 miles or so, lane 2 became pretty empty, so I indicated, and pulled in to let him past... He then pulled alongside me, and very close, and proceeded to lower his passenger window - I lowered mine, as he was screaming something at me, and then pulled out a credit sized white card, with a blue band across the top, bearing the word "POLICE" in white... I don't think it had a photo on it...

I couldn't hear what he was saying, and he accelerated away, when we got to Switch Island, I pulled alongside him, I was in lane 1 - I wound my window down, and he did his - I asked him what the problem was and if he was a police officer, could I have his number - he told me to F**k off, and wound up his window before driving off!

What's the score with this, are police officers allowed to drive what I presume to be their own personal vehicles in this matter? The vehicle was unmarked, and he was not in any sort of uniform... Does the "POLICE" card thing sound right?

My passenger manged to take a couple of photos whilst he was tailgating us, and his face is clear to see....


Advice?

Mike

 

[Doodle]

Sounds like some ****er impersonating tbh...

Based on observation of a friend's warrant card, I'm pretty sure all warrant cards would have photos on them, and his actually says the constabulary he works for, rather than just "POLICE" in big letters. Frankly it looks little different to my work ID pass.

I am aware that obviously they are specific to each constabulary, but I cannot imagine that they are that different in design.

 

[GSMGuy]

Thats what I thought - actually rang and reported it in a few mins ago, told them I have a pic, showing drivers face AND car reg at the same time, they want to come and see me tomorrow....


Now I am sure if he was legit, I wouldn't be getting a visit?

Mike

 

[Howard]

Hi Mike

I'm sure you've done the right thing ...

If it is someone who has had a card made up , who knows where else he might be using it ..

Please keep us updated on this , i will be interested to find out how it goes ..

 

[Shude]

I have an NHS staff pass, doesn't mean I'm qualified to give medical advice it just gets me past security and into the call centre!

I can't understand what showing a police ID card would prove, frankly if someone harrassed, tailgated and flashed their headlamps at me on the motorway then I'd try to pull in a lane ASAP just to get rid of the idiot it wouldn't require the showing of police ID.

 

[tony2311]

but insurance Cat B = never to return to road so its a clone car

Category A = A vehicle which should have been totally crushed, including all its spare parts.
Category B = A vehicle from which spare parts may be salvaged, but the bodyshell should have been crushed and the car should never return to the road.
Category C = An extensively damaged vehicle which the insurer has decided not to repair, but which could be repaired and returned to the road.
Category D = A damaged vehicle which the insurer has decided not to repair, but which could be repaired and returned to the road.
Category F = A vehicle damaged by fire, which the insurer has decided not to repair.
Theft = These vehicles have not been recovered and ownership rests with the insurer who made the total loss payment. They are able to repossess the car as soon as it is identified, even if it has been bought innocently.

 

[Dieselman]

I'm sure the Police will be interested in this, especially as you have pictoral evidence. It doesn't get much better than that.

Unless it's the said policeman coming to see you......

 

[GSMGuy]

Dieselman - exactly - and I already knew what a cat B was!!!

Tony - It had the same numberplates - ie bearing dealer name, but it had different headlights and lots of superficial damage.. TBH it seemed to go a bit quicker than I remembered too...


Mike

 

[glojo]

I think we ought to be careful what we ask our good friend, but hopefully he might give a generalised type answer.

My own view is:

If this person intimidated you, or threatened you in a way that caused you upset, or alarm, then I would make a formal complaint to the Police. I would NOT allow a duty inspector to deal with it. I would go the whole hog, if however it was a minor disagreement between two drivers then I would move on.

If this person was impersonating the Police, then they should be apprehended. If he really is a police officer, then he is in the wrong job.

Like everyone else, I am curious.

Good luck,
Regards
John

 

[GSMGuy]

Glojo, I think that waving a card printed with "POLICE" could only have one effect - to intimidate or coerce some action, believe me - I am not a timid person by any stretch of the imagination, but if this guy was for real, then surely it is a gross misuse of his warrant card, and certainly not good public conduct for an off duty bobby?

Mike

 

[Plodd]

He shouldn't be behaving like that either on or off duty.

And if he isn't a bobby then you have done the right thing. Either way I feel a complaint is in order.

Our warrant cards all have the holders photo on them and I would think all other areas would be the same.

 

[GSMGuy]

Hi Plodd, thanks for joining in - this guys so called card, just looked like a credit card sized card, but had the word "POLICE" emblazoned across the top in a blue band with white lettering, on an otherwise white card - I couldn't see a photo, but wasn't close enough to see anything other than the word "POLICE"

Does that sound normal?

Mike

 

[Alfie]

Tonight, whilst on way back from Manchester, was in outside lane of M57, during (busy) peak hour and match traffic..... Was doing approx 70, keeping good distance from car in front, at the same time, stil passing slower traffic in lane 2..... Noticed a grey 306 rather close to my rear end, and getting closer, but as there was slower traffic in lane 2, not much I could do - This guy looked agitated, weaving his head from side to side to see if he could get past me... Obviously, he couldn't so we continued for about 3 miles, during which he backed off a little, not a lot, but just enough for me to see his reg (he was that close!) I was quite urprised to see it was actually a car I had owned from new!! A 2000 Peugeot 306 Dturbo HDI - I was surprised, as when I last saw it, it was being pulled onto the back of a recovery wagon, after I had just been severly hit by a Discovery that pulled out in front of me....

Car was 11 months old at the time, and was on lease, so insurers replaced it witha new one when it was written off, apparently Cat "b"

Anyway, after 3 miles or so, lane 2 became pretty empty, so I indicated, and pulled in to let him past... He then pulled alongside me, and very close, and proceeded to lower his passenger window - I lowered mine, as he was screaming something at me, and then pulled out a credit sized white card, with a blue band across the top, bearing the word "POLICE" in white... I don't think it had a photo on it...

I couldn't hear what he was saying, and he accelerated away, when we got to Switch Island, I pulled alongside him, I was in lane 1 - I wound my window down, and he did his - I asked him what the problem was and if he was a police officer, could I have his number - he told me to F**k off, and wound up his window before driving off!

What's the score with this, are police officers allowed to drive what I presume to be their own personal vehicles in this matter? The vehicle was unmarked, and he was not in any sort of uniform... Does the "POLICE" card thing sound right?

My passenger manged to take a couple of photos whilst he was tailgating us, and his face is clear to see....


Advice?

Mike

Sounds to me like he's guilty of impersonating a police officer! Oh dear!

 

[glojo]

Glojo, I think that waving a card printed with "POLICE" could only have one effect - to intimidate or coerce some action, believe me - I am not a timid person by any stretch of the imagination, but if this guy was for real, then surely it is a gross misuse of his warrant card, and certainly not good public conduct for an off duty bobby?

Mike

I totally agree and the only way the authorities will find out about this behaviour rests with you. I am totally on your side over this incident and no matter what the other party might allege, they were out of order.

On a side issue, have you thought about carrying out an HPI check on the registered number? That will at the very least give you information about the authenticity of the vehicle?

Good luck with the decision,
John

 

[pammy]

On a side issue, have you thought about carrying out an HPI check on the registered number? That will at the very least give you information about the authenticity of the vehicle?

Why would you bother? Reporting the event to the police and taking through that route is the only way to deal with this. Why would you part with hard earned cash etc for something that was of no further consequence to you as an individual? It's the Police's job to do that.

 

[glojo]

Why would you bother? Reporting the event to the police and taking through that route is the only way to deal with this. Why would you part with hard earned cash etc for something that was of no further consequence to you as an individual? It's the Police's job to do that.

Hi Pammy,
I think we are all good kids saying go ahead and complain. It is easy to load a gun, but pulling the trigger is a whole new game. Go on mate, I'm behind you. I personally would not hesitate, but I would understand those that did not fancy the hassle. When complaining it is so easy to be soft soaped by an Inspector who claims, "They will deal with it, and the officer will not know what hit them!" That will be the last you hear about it. Any abuse of position is objectionable. Any abuse, or threats.

Getting an HPI check is a curiosity thing. The author states how the vehicle was wrtote off and perhaps withdrawn?

John

 

[pammy]

Getting an HPI check is a curiosity thing. The author states how the vehicle was wrtote off and perhaps withdrawn?

John

And that would acheive what? Sorry John - I just don't get why you would waste your time and money on something like that that's all.

 

[glojo]

And that would acheive what? Sorry John - I just don't get why you would waste your time and money on something like that that's all.

We are all different, I am an extremely curious type that doesn't like loose ends. It could well be (wow a peregrine falcon just hurtled by my patio window) a waste of money, but me being me, I would want to know. No doubt I am in the minority over this, but we are all individuals.

Having read a good few threads on complaining to the Police about various incidents, the one thing that stands out by a country mile is the fact they are too busy, to busy to do anything. "You have intruders sir, at the moment all our officers are busy, can you come to the Police Station between 9am - 5pm to make a statement?"

If you want a quick answer then an HPI check will do it., I fully understand where your coming from and like you say, "Why would you bother?"

Each to there own

Kind regards
John the very curious

Edit
Remember a forum member that had a Discovery demolish her garden wall leaving bits of car behind, she even got a photograph of a suspect vehicle. Police response "It's an insurance issue" I am so dissillusioned with modern day Police attitudes

 

[neilrr]

If it's a cloned car they're never going to find this **** hole anyway.

 

[Doodle]

Hi Plodd, thanks for joining in - this guys so called card, just looked like a credit card sized card, but had the word "POLICE" emblazoned across the top in a blue band with white lettering, on an otherwise white card - I couldn't see a photo, but wasn't close enough to see anything other than the word "POLICE"

Does that sound normal?

Mike

From your description it looks nothing like the Hampshire Constabulary one...We tested it last night, and at distance if you couldn't see the presence of a photo (we're not talking out and out detail, merely that there was a photo on it), you wouldn't have seen the title either.