To report/not report to the police because of political party?

[Sephiroth]

Got knocked down by a car today, very luckily the driver was edging out looking the other way while I was furiously applying my bike breaks in wet weather. The first the guy knew about it was probably my swearing blue murder at him.

He pulled over while I was on the floor, apologised saying it was entirely his fault - which IMO it most definitely was, but had the good grace to make a decent apology, make sure I was ok and offered to pay for any damage to my bike . I was already of a mind to forgive and forget, had a banged up knee and a little shakey but no broken bones and didn't feel he was being reckless it was an accident after all.

Then someone called up his name and I realised I knew him, he is an elected member of my local government.

Of course the moment has passed but I lay the case before mumsnet -which party did he belong to, and what are the ethics for reporting this to the police?

[hellhasnofury]

As the motorist he should've reported the accident. Hope you're not too sore tonight?

[scurryfunge]

If it is an injury road traffic collision then it should be reported.

[Sephiroth]

My kids knees look worse on a daily basis than mine tonight, to be honest i'd feel a bit of a fool saying it was an injury.

[blackoutthexmaslights]

nope its a RTA it needs reporting

[Sephiroth]

I suppose what I am trying to work out is why I thought who hit me or the way they treated me after the event should have any bearing on reporting the matter.

[MrsPeterDoherty]

It only needs reporting if you want to "out" this chap and embarrass him in the press.
Police won't be interested, no damage caused and he's willing to pay for your bike.
Use the money to buy new tyres and better brakes

[LineRunnerCrouchingReindeer]

How does this person's being a local councillor have anything to do with the incident? You've lost me.

[LineRunnerCrouchingReindeer]

Oh, you mean you could embarrass him and if he's in the 'wrong' party? Or you thought he got preferntil treatment?

Could you actually spell it out.

[LineRunnerCrouchingReindeer]

Which is more than I can spell....sorry.

[HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight]

Who he is is irrelevant. You should do exactly what you would do if I had knocked you down. Or anyone else had.

Was it boris?

[Sephiroth]

Just for funsies - if a priest hit you in the same circumstances would you report them? A fireman? JK Rowling?

Is there any kind of personality get out clause available here???

[HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight]

of course it wasn't. He's the mayor of bloody london. That's not a member of local government, is it?

Ignore me. I'm a twat.

[HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight]

yes I would, yes I would and yes I would.

You have to act based on the incident, not on the individual.

[MrsWifty]

Was he a Green party councillor? You could make a case for naming and shaming one of them as they're very hot on promoting bike use over car use.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Oh yeah, I'd be more likely to report if he was a nasty Bnp candidate.

I just would, it's not an attractive trait.

[Earthdog]

There is no need to report the incident if you have swapped details. As he has been kind and gentlemanly about it, why on Earth ould you want to make things awkward for him? Contrary to popular conception, councillors of all parties usually work long hours for a small allowance with the local community their number 1 priority - and it's a thankless job. Give the guy a break! Hope you mend well.

[Serenitysutton]

If it's boris you simply must, anything to get rid of the fucker.

[Sephiroth]

Basically he's a good guy - he's on Road Safety groups and does lots of good work for the area, I've heard him speak in meetings and although I don't agree with some of it I can't argue for his motivations. He is not in the majority party, and the opposition play dirty

As far as i can see he's a good egg

Now if it had been other local councillors I would have been seriously inclined to make life bothersome.

And then I started being very conflicted

[HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight]

You got mown down by a guy who's on road safety groups?

Sorry, but that made me laugh!

[BridgetJonesPants]

Sorry to hear of your accident & thankfully it wasn't too serious. Re you question, I don't really think it matters what political party driver belongs to, as you say it was an accident & he had the decency to apologise, admit blame & offer to pay for any damage. He probably got as big a fright as you at what might have been!

However, I'd like to say a big well done to you for not jumping on the back of an 'amublance chaser' type of claim. Far too often people see accidents as a way to make an easy buck - and it really pisses me off.

[troisgarcons]

Why would you report someone who stopped, apologised, did the right thing, gave you name and address, offered to pay for damage?

What a bloody waste of police time for a mishap. Christ all mighty can you imagin every bumper scrape and touch being reported?

[Sephiroth]

That was my reaction Mrswifty and Earthdog

I would never want to make more trouble for someone where the reaction to the incident could take it out of all proportion to the incident itself

[HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight]

I thought you were supposed to report an incident where someone has been run over? (I'm no legal bod so may well be wrong on that!) Reporting something isn't the same thing as pressing charges.

[Sephiroth]

hectate made me laugh too, I mean just how bloody ironic do you need.

But then if say Jeremy Clarkson knocked you down and was a bit shirty about you, whats the consensus then??

troisgarcons agree about wasting police time, i'd rather they got on with crimes

[Earthdog]

Nah, I had a kind of similar thing recently Hecate -except it was my dog that apparently caused a car crash! I rang the police when I found out that the guy had been hurt (not seriously, luckily) but because I had given him my details they weren't interested.