Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this was a waste of police time?

212 replies

FlowersBlown · 14/06/2013 12:29

At 10pm last night I answered the door to a police officer. He asked about my car, and whether I and it had been at a particular gym earlier in the week. We had. While there I committed an offence.

I made a mistake parking and scraped the plastic bumper of the car next to me. I did not report this. The policeman was off duty in the carpark and witnessed the offence. He took our number plates and went to visit the owner of the other car. She was unaware of the damage, but upon inspection there is indeed scuffing to the bumper.

This in now in the hands of our insurance companies. Was it really worth the police persuing this? No charges are being brought. I did something wrong, but we live in a congested city. My own car is covered in scuffs that have not (all) been caused by me. Should a scuffed bumper be seen more as part of the give and take of city living rather than a potentially criminal matter?

OP posts:
Purple2012 · 14/06/2013 18:56

Harriet you are wrong. If the public have access, doctors surgery, gym, supermarket etc it is classed as a public highway for the purposes of the road traffic act.

limitedperiodonly · 14/06/2013 19:06

harrietschulenberg has a point about the use of police computers.

Most people seem to think it's a great idea for an off-duty police officer to witness an event but not challenge someone on the spot.

Then later, delve into files to pursue her for what is a relatively minor offence, and when on duty to to delve into files again to contact the alleged victim and then after that, call at the alleged perpetrator's house to put the shits up her, not put anything on the record but to report to a private company.

I happen to think the story is bullshit, but are you lot who swallowed it really thinking all that it's a good idea?

Apologies OP if that's what really happened. If so, I assume you live in a banana republic. If not, I'd get on to your local police authority with a big complaint.

Sallyingforth · 14/06/2013 19:10

This has nothing to do with the road traffic act. She could have done that damage with a pushchair instead of a car and would still be liable for putting it right.
If you damage someone's property - whether it's a car or a fence or a china teapot - you are responsible for that damage however and wherever it occurs.

IneedAsockamnesty · 14/06/2013 19:11

Perhaps the police officer told the driver they saw why happened and she made a complaint

Plomino · 14/06/2013 19:35

Actually , I have no problem at all with the officer using PNC to do his job . Which he did . As stated at least twice , the car park when open to the public is subject to the Road Traffic Act . So , having witnessed an offence under that Act , (bearing in mind the OP admits to leaving , so he might not have been able to stop her , and frankly , with her mind elsewhere , I wouldn't be keen on standing in front of her car either ) he then uses PNC to investigate an OFFENCE . Or would you rather he witnessed an offence and did nothing? Bearing in mind how PNC is audited , no officer with a brain would use it for anything other than legitimate reasons , and if they don't , then they're incredibly stupid and deserve to lose their job . As well as being prosecuted for misuse of the PNC , which is also a criminal offence.

fengirl1 · 14/06/2013 19:52

YABU. Biscuit

Original poster
FlowersBlown · 14/06/2013 19:52

I can assure you 100% that this is exactly what happened. The police officer called at the home of the victim, before calling on me. She had no idea there was any damage done until this point. This was 2 days after the accident, at 10pm last night. He was in full uniform when he called. He is not recording the offence. He said that I did not have to even contact my insurance company. I said I would have to do that. Anyway he didn't give me the other party's details, apart from their name, so have no way of contacting them to resolve without recourse to the insurance company.

I live in England!

OP posts:
limitedperiodonly · 14/06/2013 19:54

We'd have to agree to disagree about the legitimitate use of police computers

ComposHat · 14/06/2013 19:59

I walked home and saw what looked like a massive scrape on the car bumper and thought 'that's bloody sod's law that, pontificating about bumper scratches all day and then some cunt has gone and done mime' rubbed the 'scratch' and it was dry birdshite.

I was relieved...sort of.

Mumsyblouse · 14/06/2013 20:02

I am quite surprised everyone is adamant they would leave a note. All my cars have been scraped numerous times over the years, there's a lovely white scrape on the bumper, but not once has anyone left me a note. Perhaps the non-note leavers daren't post.

For what it's worth, when I reversed into a car in a car park and dented the door significantly, I left a note (and paid the price the next year in insurance). But for a tiny bumper scrape, hardly noticeable, I may well not bother. If it was easily visible I would.

I just don't believe everyone leaves notes for very tiny scrapes otherwise we would see these notes on cars parked all the time, a few a day in a normal car park, surely?

Sparklingbrook · 14/06/2013 20:06

But who are all these drivers that can't park without scraping other cars? I am sure that would be a fail on your driving test.

Woodville · 14/06/2013 20:15

Cars get damaged like everything else, if you don't want to risk it, leave it on your drive or don't bother at all. Life is too bloody short. Obviously if there is significant or costly damage, it's a different story, but I have a car for convenience, not aesthetic reasons and a barely noticeable scratch would not be at the top of my priorities.

wibblyjelly · 14/06/2013 20:16

Maybe the police officer was tired of dealing with incidents where this has happened, and he hasn't been able to help the victim.

BIWI · 14/06/2013 20:17

It may not be for you, Woodville, but for some of us it is important! But it's not the OP's right to decide how important it is for someone else and someone else's car!

Quangle · 14/06/2013 20:17

I'm with Emme and Limited. I also said I wouldn't even think of calling a scuffed plastic bumper damage. Either on my car or by my car. For me the clue is in the name...Wink

Disclaimer - I've never caused this damage to anyone afaik. But it's a daily occurrence round these parts (C London). I'm not sanguine about much but I am about this. I am also dubious about the number of notes being left - if we are talking about the same sort of damage, I ought to see cars plastered with these notes as everyone says they'd leave one but I've never had one or even seen one!

Original poster
FlowersBlown · 14/06/2013 20:28

I too am very sceptical about all this note leaving. Everyone here has been a victim, without any sign of a note. Everyone here also always leaves notes. It seems there is absolutely no overlap between Mumsnetters users and regular members of the public. Apart from me.

OP posts:
StayAwayFromTheEdge · 14/06/2013 20:29

A bumper is not there for you to bump into Quangle - it is there to absorb the impact if someone crashes into you at speed.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 14/06/2013 20:31

Quangle - did you see the post earlier on the thread where someone (or their friend/relative), had a plastic bumper scuffed, and the rain got under the paint on the bumper and caused more damage, to the point where it needed repainting, at which point she found out that the original ding had damaged the bumper mounting, making it an expensive repair?

Sparklingbrook · 14/06/2013 20:32

Car for all you bumper scuffers

Quangle · 14/06/2013 20:34

Would love that sparkling. Also one of those handsome fairground types hanging off the back and jumping from car to car like they used to when I were a teenager.

limitedperiodonly · 14/06/2013 20:35

I've never seen such a note either mumsy and quangle .

I've seen lots of notes saying: 'If you want to lose weight just ask me...'

I don't answer them.

limitedperiodonly · 14/06/2013 20:38

quangle I think we used to hang out at the same fairgrounds.

Or the same fairground blokes used to travel to us.

Chanatan · 14/06/2013 20:38

If the incident happened in a private carpark, i.e. the gym, it is a civil matter qnd is not a criminal offence. Had it happened on the road it would have been an offence worthy of police investigation.,sorry but that is wrong,any carpark ,wether private or not,if it is used by the general public come under the Road Traffic Act .

CaptainJamesTKirk · 14/06/2013 20:41

I left a not once as a witness. I saw a car reverse into another in the train station car park. It made a little dent. The driver just continued as normal. So I wrote a note with my name and number and the details of the car that had hit them. I said I would happily tell the police I had witnessed the incident.

I've also been scuffed by someone in that car park who never owned up to it. My car was 2 weeks old, I was bloody furious.

Learn to drive and park properly and stop blaming the police for pursuing this. You caused damage to someone else's car. You are to blame and you were in the wrong for not owning up to it.

crashdoll · 15/06/2013 11:32

Flowers Don't be an arse just because you did something morally wrong. I'm not sure why you think I'd lie that my car got hit and I didn't receive a note. I have nothing to gain from making it up.

Swipe left for the next trending thread