To expect the police to do more?

[RockHopper1405]

First time I've poster but really looking for some advice.
My dp and I went out for a couple of drinks a few weeks ago in a London suburb near to where we live. I ordered an Uber to take us home and when it arrived it was at the opposite side of the (busy) main road to where the pin had been. We waved so he saw us and waited to cross. The car was parked on the corner of a side street and main road. However, when we got there and I opened the door the driver said we had taken too long and he would no longer bring us home. I said we had stood where the pin was and waved when he arrived so he knew. He was adamant he wouldn't take us so I asked him to cancel trip so I could book a new taxi and closed the door. In the meantime, my dp had walked around to the other side of the car to get in. I called over to him to tell and then looked down at my phone to reorder a taxi. When I looked up the taxi driver was out of the car and getting up in my dp face shouting at him. My dp looked confused and the next thing the taxi driver started punching him. I shouted at him to stop and my dp held up his hands to sorry to stop him but the driver continued. I ran round and got in between them and the driver stopped. My dp's nose was burst and blood was spurting out everywhere. I told dp to go to the other side to side road ask taxi driver was still shouting but I couldn't understand what it was he was saying even though I was asking him what problem was. I decided to try and get another taxi, but the taxi driver moved toward my dp and started hitting him again he held his hands up and the driver kicked him so he fell to ground and proceeded to kick him on chest/shoulder etc. I moved again shouted to stop but he would and so I called 999. I called to him to tell him I had done this and he immediately stopped. He got annoyed as I was giving his car details to the operator. He started shouting 'the police need to come someone has to pay, someone has to pay'
An ambulance car was sent to treat my dp who was beaten to a pulp and I heard by this point and they said the police would follow. When I got off the phone the driver said again about somebody paying and said my dp had kicked his car and made a massive dent in it. The ambulance car arrived then and started to treat dp. The taxi driver crossed the road to go to a chicken shop while we waited on police. When they arrived and saw dp one immediately said 'gbh' then went off to find the driver: the other officer came and spoke to us and took statements from us. Unfortunately, no one else who had been around initially was still around so no other witnesses. The officer speaking to the driver came back and said the driver had beaten my dp because of the dent and he was claiming damage against him. As my dp was accusing him of assault they said the best thing to do would be to both walk away. We said we didn't want that as no.1 we didn't damage his car and no.2 he was beaten up really badly. There were 4 cctv cameras around so police said they would check them. The driver started to get shouty again and my dp was in a lot of pain so I had said we would get a taxi home and there seemed nothing more the police could do at that point. We got home and dp was still in a lot of pain so took him to a&e where we had xrays and was given heavy duty painkillers and anti-inflammatoires.
At hospital police called to give me another ref number and said they'd be in touch.
We heard nothing. A couple of days later the horrific attack at London Bridge happened and so when I asked for an update I was told all met police resources were focussed on that but someone would get back to me.
This has hit dp really hard. He's a gentle and kind person, has never hit anyone in his life, let alone been in a fight. The next day he was talking about us selling up and moving to country and subsequently took 2 weeks 'working from home' as was in took much pain/mentally unable to go.
He's feeling a little stronger mentally although his chest and shoulder are still causing him problems, and now Christmas etc is done with I said we should follow with police to see what's happening.
He called the police again for an update and they e told him case is closed.
It's one word against another and in the absent of witnesses (apparently I don't count) then there is nothing they can do. I just don't see how that can be the conclusion, the driver didn't have a mark on him and the dent in his car would have taken a lot more force than a kick to be created (although unfortunately we didn't think to take a picture of it at the time but hoped the police might?) It's sent dp back on a downward spiral, he said so people can go around doing whatever they like but as long as there are no witnesses there's no crime?'
Sorry this has turned into a very long post, so thank you for reading it all; I just wanted to give as much detail as possible to prevent any drip feeding.
Does anyone know if there is anything further we can do or do we just have to accept that's the end of it and try as best we can to get over it?

Had your DP had any contact with Victim Support? It sounds like he's really struggling so it might not hurt to make contact with them. They may be able to help navigate the practical side as well.

You may be able to phone 101 and pick the option for/ask for "customer services" (yes, really) and informally complain to get them to explain what was done before they closed it and who made that decision and why.

Don't kick off, just ask for info because it doesn't sound like you've had an adequate explanation and frankly your partner deserves that.

But it might be worth contacting Victim Support first.

I would suggest phoning 101, quoting your reference number and asking to be updated about the case.

The police are fobbing you off. It's not the word of one against another. Your DP has been seriously assaulted and has identified who did it. The guy who did it hasn't even denied it, just tried to justify it. Even if your DP had kicked his car that doesn't give the driver the right to beat the shit out of him.

I don't know how to get this looked at again, but there must be something that can be done if the police aren't doing their job.

Write to the local Inspector outlining your concerns about a lack of investigation.

It leaves you feeling really powerless doesn't it? I've been a victim of violent crime, also not pursued due to lack of evidence and you do end up feeling that people can just do whatever they like with no consequences. In most cases the feeling does fade, the shock subsides and you start to see things in a more balanced way again but it's also possible to develop PTSD and that may be the way DH is heading. It's very treatable (especially if you can afford to pay) with therapy but that will depend on his willingness to seek help. Would he go to the GP as a first step do you think?

Complain. You are not independent witness but you are a witness.

The assault is disproportionate to the alleged damage.

As you know there was CCTV make a subject access request for the data. You may need to go back and get the contact details from the cctv installations. This is the evidence you can then submit to the police.

You can directly ask for a review of that decision, and I would strongly advise you to do so. Check the timeframe too.

www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/victims-right-review-scheme

Yes you can ask for a review. Victims right to review.

I think there's some sort of process where you can ask for a review of a decision not to prosecute. At the very least they should have got the CCTV footage.

Oops, sorry, crossposted.

The police are fobbing you off. Complain and keep complaining. Lazy sods.

Most likely the CPS are the lazy sods but as reported you can ask for a review. Hopefully the CCTV was collected otherwise it might have been recorded over.

Several issues here OP.

Firstly, the police have a duty to act if there is reasonable grounds to believe an offence has been committed. In this case, GBH, if your assessment of injuries is correct. The idea that "no witnesses=no case" has NO basis in law. The CPS, having considered the evidence, may decide not to prosecute, but that's a different discussion.

The officers didn't do their jobs. If you don't believe me, suppose for a moment YOU were the victim, you had been beaten and punched, still think no arrests would have been made?

The officers were lazy/negligent and assumed your DP was drunk and abusive to the driver, happens every day, and based on this sexist assumption, they didn't exercise their police powers.

Firstly, make contact with the relevant Inspector, easy to find, just provide the officers collar numbers to the person on the phone and they can check who the supervising officer is. Then contact the Inspector directly. You need raise a complaint, not ask for an update.

The police are massively overworked, understaffed and they will always try to easy route of not investigating.

Be clear, there was more than reasonable grounds to believe an offence had been committed. You need to make a complaint.

Take the Inspectors name, be clear you are making an official complaint and NOT asking for an update.

Hope your DP gets better.

I've no real advice, but bloody hell don't let this drop!

My jaw has dropped. The police are letting you down shockingly. Hold them to account!

I would also post on social media and leaflet round the area to see if you can track down any witnesses.

You need to put in a formal complaint to the police, this is absolute bollocks. It is GBH and it's not your word against his. Even if he had dented the car (which he didn't) he doesn't deserve to be beaten to a pulp.
Persue this complaint to the max, they have to investigate complaints.
I complained when a police officer hauled me out of my car when I was on an emergency visit to a patient. I wasn't speeding but they were doing spot checks. I was in uniform and despite my protests that I was on an emergency I was told to shut up or they would impound my car. My patient almost died.
It was hushed up and hushed up but I put in complaint after complaint and eventually that traffic officer was fired.