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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder what does count as sufficient evidence?

29 replies

Shamalamalam · 22/06/2018 09:09

A few weeks ago horse mad DD was out hacking and was hit by a car. I don’t ride, she was out with 2 other experiences adult riders so I didn’t see the actual incident first hand.

They stick to bridle ways and fields as a rule, but there’s a little patch where 1 bridle way ends and they have to go on the road for about 100 yards before the next bridleway begins. They’ve ridden this way dozens and dozens of times and all good.

This time there was an impatient driver behind, getting way too close and trying to overtake. There’s no verge or anywhere for the riders to get off the road, but like I said, it’s 100 yards. Driver overtakes, car coming the other way so driver forces his way back in between DD1 and the rider in front of her.

Horse was amazing, but DD ended up with a cracker of a bruise on her leg from the wing mirror and DD and horse and the rider and horse behind her got pretty scratched up where they were pushed into a hedge.

The whole incident was caught on 3 separate bodyworn/dash cams - the rider behind DD has a body worn camera, a car behind Mr Impatient and the car coming the other way both had dash cams so we reported it to the police and gave them all the footage.

Finally hear back from the police and they will be taking no further action due to insufficient evidence!!

I mean WTF??? What is sufficient evidence then?

I’m so bloody cross. Luckily there were no serious injuries but I feel sick at what could have happened

OP posts:
MrsExpo · 22/06/2018 09:20

I'm a rider myself and have had similar happen to me and known it to happen to friends as well - even a case where a horse was literally knocked off its feet by a speeding vehicle. You need to pursue this with the police and push for some kind of explanation. Did the footage actually show the reg of the vehicle as well as the incident itself? If not, it would be hard to identify. I feel for you. I hope DD is OK and recovering and it's not put her off riding.

FlyingElbows · 22/06/2018 09:24

It may be worth reporting this incident, and lack of action by the police, to the British Horse Society as they are currently really pushing their campaign for road safety.

Original poster
Shamalamalam · 22/06/2018 09:26

Thanks!

DD and horse are both fine and she’s been back out several times since so it doesn’t seem to have put her off so far.

All 3 cameras got the registration number of the car

I’ve called to speak to the officer we dealt with but he’s not around until next week. Will definitely be on it again next week

OP posts:
Original poster
Shamalamalam · 22/06/2018 09:27

Sorry, Flying, x-posted. Will do that now

OP posts:
redastherose · 22/06/2018 09:31

Yes definitely push for a reason why they won't be taking it further as there is clearly sufficient evidence both camera and eye witness accounts. Perhaps say that you want to speak to a more senior officer if you feel you are being ignored because they can't be bothered.

nikkylou · 22/06/2018 09:38

Do you have the registration? I can't offer any advice in respect to the police.
Silly question so forgive me but are the horses insured for an incident like this? If so, and you make a claim, they may be able to help track down the driver's car insurance if you have the reg, so you can pursue them for the incident. What the insurance may want to do about his failure to stop and report the incident is up to them.
Even if the horses are not insured in this way, and you have the reg, you may still be able to speak to his insurance directly as a Third Party. I have called the wrong insurance about a vehicle before and they told me who it was insured with, although I speak to insurers as part of my job, and they know us as company, so i don't know if they will share with joe bloggs public in the same way. Phrase it as, i thought he was insured with you, i only got his reg...can you tell who it is if its not you....? I don't know if the police will tell you either, they know as well! I think they both check the motor insurance database (MID) but it gives more info to them that it does on the askmid website.

GeoGirl94 · 22/06/2018 09:48

I despise people who do this! I think that its ridiculous to say that there's insufficient evidence from 3!! cameras- utterly ridiculous! hope you manage to get a reason as to why they chose to say this???
As a rider myself i find it quite scary, not to mention the horse isn't too fond of it either
Really glad your DD and her horse are OK!!

Original poster
Shamalamalam · 22/06/2018 10:06

Thanks!

We did get the car rag, it’s on all the footage from the 3 cameras. DD is insured so I’ll give the insurance company a call

I’ll call the police again next week, there’s no one available today so I’ll definitely be on it on Monday

OP posts:
Original poster
Shamalamalam · 22/06/2018 10:07

Insufficient evidence is a shit reason - 3 separate lots of footage FFS!

Angry
OP posts:
AttilaTheMusical · 22/06/2018 10:11

What about the BHS - do they have a legal team who could take this up on your behalf?

QuestionableMouse · 22/06/2018 10:14

It's because doesn't fill their quotas which is utterly ridiculous. I'd try the BHS and go to your local papers too.

Jonbb · 22/06/2018 10:21

Put in a formal complaint using their process, and media support is always helpful.

Raindancer411 · 22/06/2018 10:27

There is a group on Facebook that is dealing with things like this. Maybe contact them?

Raindancer411 · 22/06/2018 10:28

Slow down for my horse campaign.

Original poster
Shamalamalam · 22/06/2018 10:56

Thanks all!

Have reported to BHS. Will have a look for the Facebook group

Will have a chat with the other 2 riders about talking to the local papers as well.

However, that never goes well, there was a similar report a few months ago and the general attitude judging by the comments seemed to be total victim blaming/horses shouldn’t be on roads/we’re all posh nobs/usual bullshit

OP posts:
BlooperReel · 22/06/2018 11:27

The police gave us this waffle when my friend was punched in the face by a man at a kids soft play centre, tens of witnesses, cctv in the venue too.

:(

Glad your DD and her horse are ok but people are such wankers!

mummyhaschangedhername · 22/06/2018 11:40

My mum had the police say something like that when she was burgled. She contacted the police commissioner and then they suddenly had enough evidence and he got convicted. I was burgled last year and they did the same to me, unfortunately despite the fact I did have cctv no one could identify him so didn't see the point is pushing it. But in your case I really would take it to the police commissioner.

Firesuit · 22/06/2018 12:23

I can't visualise what happened, but I think the bit about her only needing to use the road for 100m is possibly irrelevant, as the car driver probably didn't know that. I'd guess he thought that not overtaking meant staying behind her indefinitely. (It does sound like he chose the wrong option though.)

If the road isn't wide enough for a car to pass a horse at 5mph without pushing them into a hedge, I wonder if the horses should occupy the centre of the road and prevent overtaking?

FlyingElbows · 22/06/2018 12:42

You could maybe try getting in touch with Horse and Hound as well, they might be interested.

Bearfam · 22/06/2018 12:48

It is completely understandable that you are furious! As others have said ask for reasons why the evidence isn't enough. Also make a complaint about the police to the police complaints commission.

Unfortunately I know a lot of people who have this type of experience. I often feel that this level of crime isn't serious enough for them to bother with. Which is very anger inducing.

Do pleased it hasn't put dd off doing something she loves.

Mousefunky · 22/06/2018 12:50

I was once assaulted in the street by an ex but because there was no CCTV evidence in the area, he got away scot free. Makes you wonder how the world coped pre CCTV if that’s the only evidence the police care for. I can’t see how they can really argue insufficient evidence here though tbh, definitely appeal it.

Original poster
Shamalamalam · 22/06/2018 12:56

Thanks all!

The hedge really overhangs the road so they were already quite far over. It’s a small, narrow-ish back road.

OP posts:
Original poster
Shamalamalam · 22/06/2018 13:02

Sorry, crossposted

I’ve heard of a few people who have had this kind of stuff happen to them too and the police won’t pursue it

In this case we have 3 separate sets of camera footage so I guess it’s just not serious enough for them

OP posts:
Original poster
Shamalamalam · 22/06/2018 13:09

Sorry, going to rant now Grin

But every time this happens and the culprit gets away with it, it just reinforces this attitude that horses shouldn’t be on the road IMO

If the police starting cracking down on it (like they are doing for cyclists around here) then maybe it wouldn’t happen

People need to get it into their heads, that whether they like it or not, horses are perfectly entitled to be on the road

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endofthelinefinally · 22/06/2018 13:10

My daughter was injured and aggressively harrassed by a dangerous driver. Her car was written off and she was trapped inside.
The other driver went straight into a nearby pub and had a drink.
A member of the public helped her out of the car.
Obviously the other driver couldn't be breathalised as he had just had a drink.
I think he should have been arrested but they just let him go.

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