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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Police not bothered

23 replies

pp12 · 15/07/2019 12:17

Earlier today just after school started there was a crash locally car hit a house then carried on a drive into a car. Police called and they are not bothered. Two cars written off.

Do you think the police should of been interested. The driver said to people around his was tried and fell asleep.

OP posts:

HopefullyAnonymous · 15/07/2019 12:21

Was anyone injured?

EskewedBeef · 15/07/2019 12:23

Do you mean they're not at all interested, or that they are already aware of it and don't need more reports?

Sparklesocks · 15/07/2019 12:24

Do you have more info? Did the police arrive and then leave saying they weren’t interested? Or did they come and they have everything they need so don’t need more info? Or did they refuse to come when they were called?

5foot5 · 15/07/2019 12:28

When you say "they are not bothered" did they actually say words to that effect or is it just that they have not yet responded?

It could be that something more serious has happened elsewhere and since police resources are very stretched then this incident is not a priority.

HopefullyAnonymous · 15/07/2019 12:29

We would not ordinarily attend a non-injury RTC as this will all be sorted through insurance. Exceptions being if the road is blocked stopping traffic or there’s a suggestion of an actual crime eg driver was drunk/no insurance etc. We literally do not have the resources. I can promise you there aren’t officers sat at the station cos they don’t feel like doing anything. Please raise with your MP the shortage of officers in your area.

Original poster

pp12 · 15/07/2019 12:29

No one hurt, (maybe some pride)but the police said they wouldn’t come out at all it was the first call they got.

OP posts:

Nicknacky · 15/07/2019 12:32

Accidents happen everywhere, many many times a day. The police won’t attend one like this and the drivers can exchange details and deal with it themselves.

Exceptions being road blocked, suggestion of offences etc.

creamcheeseandlox · 15/07/2019 12:32

Police don't attend damage only accidents. Only if injury is involved.

colourlessgreenidea · 15/07/2019 12:33

No one hurt, (maybe some pride)but the police said they wouldn’t come out at all it was the first call they got.

The police don’t automatically attend the scene of a car accident, and not relatively minor ones. There are hundreds of collisions every day, they haven’t got the resources to attend them all.

That’s not the same as being ‘not bothered.

MissCharleyP · 15/07/2019 12:38

But...how would they know if the driver was under the influence of anything unless they attended? Someone might phone and say the driver seemed to be but there’s no proof. I pity the person whose had their property damaged and now has no redress; presuming that if said driver was under the influence his insurance would have had to pay everything?

Sparklesocks · 15/07/2019 12:38

We had a car crash into our house a few years ago, police attended. It was a boy racer who was speeding (he misjudged a corner, ploughed through our neighbour’s garden and eventually was stopped by the front of our house!!). I guess the police came because of the dangerous driving aspect then. They also arranged for his car to be removed (it folded up like a tin can). He was fine, no one was hurt and no big damage (I think the exterior wall absorbed most of the impact).

Nicknacky · 15/07/2019 12:42

Miss In that case the police would have to attend every bump that happens which isn’t going to happen. Therefore they will attend ones where there is a suggestion of alcohol or drugs.

It’s up to the insurance companies to sort it, or the drivers themselves.

HopefullyAnonymous · 15/07/2019 12:42

“Police not required” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as “police not bothered”.

To the PP who asked, if it was reported to us that one of the drivers was believed to be under the influence, we’d attend.

PancakeAndKeith · 15/07/2019 12:44

I can see why they didn’t attend.
No one was injured and there is no evidence that a law was broken.

It’s not that they weren’t bothered, they aren’t sat at the police station eating cake. There is no staff or funding.

Don’t vote Tory if you want the police funding properly. (Not suggesting that you voted Tory op)

newmomof1 · 15/07/2019 12:48

Unless a crime has been committed, what do you want them to do?

That's what insurance companies are for.

colourlessgreenidea · 15/07/2019 12:51

I pity the person whose had their property damaged and now has no redress; presuming that if said driver was under the influence his insurance would have had to pay everything?

Why do they have no redress? Are you under the impression that insurance only pays out in the case of drunk drivers?

newmomof1 · 15/07/2019 13:19

Don’t vote Tory if you want the police funding properly.

Yeah vote Labour because Abbott can get 20,000 police officers for £26,000 a year 👍🏻

JustAVoidReally · 15/07/2019 13:21

Was anyone hurt, is anyone in danger now, has everyone involved stayed at the scene to exchange details etc?

These things affect whether the police will drop other calls to scramble to your location with helicopter support. If they are not needed they might not, whether they are "bothered" or not.

IncandescentShadow · 15/07/2019 13:40

Unfortunately the police wont' order a full investigation with a view to pressing charges if theres no initial evidence of drink, drugs or speeding involved. The reason for that is that there is no liklihood of successful prosecution the way the road traffic laws stand, and civil law and insurance are left to deal with it.

DH was actually nearly hit by a van on the wrong side of the road because it was going too fast for the bend. It then actually hit a cyclist, who ended up on the bonnet. Miraculously only bruised. DH phoned the police, police investigated, no evidence of drinks, drugs or speeding (even 60mph would have been too fast for that bend in a van) and even though there was another witness, he wasn't charged. DH was so upset he queried it, and received a response explaining all of this.

Its the totally inadequate road traffic laws that need changed. The police can't do anything, its the CPS that makes the decision to prosecute and they will only do so if theres a reasonable likliehood of success.

NoBaggyPants · 15/07/2019 13:57

@newmomof1 Stupid comment. Read this and then tell us about all your achievements.

www.theheroinecollective.com/diane-abbott/

hellsbellsmelons · 15/07/2019 13:59

As long as blame is taken by the correct party and there are no injuries then it should be an insurance issue and not police.

My DD crashed and the person wrote her car off.
But there was dispute on site so the police came out.

If no dispute then just take it to the insurance companies.

hellenbackagen · 15/07/2019 14:21

The remit of police in any rtc is if there is injury, or suspicion of drink driving etc

If it's a damage only RTC then that's what insurance is for an it is NOT a police matter. So no they do not come out for every bump and knock .

Police deal with criminal matters or injury rtc. Why do you think they should have attended? I presume all relevant details were exchanged at scene for insurance to be notified.?

CrumbsCrumbsEverywhere · 15/07/2019 14:37

Police dont attend damage only accidents (unless they actually see it for which in some cases they will stop to help and make sure details are exchanged). Accidents happen so often it would be impossible.

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