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Reporting without visual of numberplate?

by Rendel Harris
Fri, Mar 15, 2024 09:38
5

I think even the most car-brained would agree that this maniac needs reporting:

https://twitter.com/Rendel_Harris/status/1768570582314987734

For those who don't Twitter, a van driver going straight through the red light on the north side of Battersea Bridge this morning (a place where many cyclists and pedestrians have been killed) and almost hitting cyclists legitimately going straight on/turning left and right. As I was waiting to join the bridge I've only got a view of them going across me and so no recording of the numberplate, although I saw it clearly and called it out to the camera. Has anyone had experience of reporting to the police without a visual of the numberplate, will they (assuming they're a force that does take action) still prosecute?

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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5 comments

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mattw | 9 months ago
0 likes

Interesting question.

AIUI a witness statement is to be taken as serious evidence, unless there are contraindications. I guess that sits in Procedure Rules and Legal Precedent somewhere.

I have asked the Black Belt Barrister to do a vid on the issue, so we can all learn more and have an "general advice" authority around.

His Youtube comments are full of motohoons, so there might be a good cloud of dust stirred up.

Question for @dshensmith about witness statements.
BBB, aiui, a statement is required to be accepted unless there is obvious bad faith. Here is a clip of a dangerous driver where there is no visual, but the plate is read out.
Could you do a vid about the evidential value here? Tx
https://twitter.com/mattwardman/status/1768839536828621309

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KDee | 9 months ago
5 likes

I had my first interaction with Dutch plod a couple weeks ago. Nearly taken out while using a traffic light controlled bike crossing by a speeding Golf (naturally) that blew through a red light at maybe 80kph in 50kph zone. Clocked the number plate, and called the Politie a few minutes later to report it. An officer called me back maybe an hour later to ask what happened (Are you OK? Is the bike OK?!). End result was they keep a log of it, no more (I don't run a camera on any of my bikes). But at least if this dickhead did something else during the day, maybe they see a pattern.

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wtjs | 9 months ago
2 likes

You don't need me to tell you yet again that Lancashire Constabulary would ignore this even if you did have video of exactly the same view of the lights as the Biffa driver, because 'everybody does it'. No numberplate is ever visible enough for LC.

https://upride.cc/incident/g16dht_hgvtrainer_redlightcross/

https://upride.cc/incident/k7ddy_audia4_redlightpass/

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NOtotheEU | 9 months ago
2 likes

I've never bothered reporting any driver with no clear shot of the plate but I have followed a couple into the turn they took. Sadly one accelerated away too quickly and the other was not from the UK but I reported it anyway on the off chance the police would do something.

It's pretty shocking driving and I'd definitely report it if I'd seen the plate and called it out.

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Creakingcrank | 9 months ago
4 likes

I have. Could see a couple characters on the number plate and managed to identify the car using this website. NFA from the police due to no visible plate. Other reports I've done (Warwickshire police and I don't do many) usually get a warning letter.

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