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Same for civilians?
Posted: 12 Jan 2014, 10:44am
by Claireysmurf
Would this be a different outcome if it was Joe Public on the bike not a copper?
http://road.cc/content/news/107764-taxi ... -face-jail
Re: Same for civilians?
Posted: 12 Jan 2014, 11:14am
by eileithyia
Of course it is different, similar incident; swore at driver who turned right across me, same driver came after me, stopped across me in a dark lane forcing me to stop, was out of the car and had his hands around my throat while shaking me..... Reported to police, admittedly they took it seriously, arrested him in front of his wife (and kids? maybe) took him in for questioning but could do no more due to lack of witnesses (dark lane) and lack of bruising around my throat (winter so wearing a scarf).
He did at least get full questioning job with tape recorder etc., police had to trace him via his work as it was a company car, so boss knew something was up, and would have to explain to wifey why he was pulled in by the police from the house at tea time....
Re: Same for civilians?
Posted: 12 Jan 2014, 11:47am
by Mick F
It annoys me that the police don't need witnesses.
If they say you've done something, you've done it despite no-one else seeing it. I suppose that it's better like that, as the police need to be seen to have authority. It was the same for me in the RN as a very senior rating. If I said something, it was "true".
Joe or Joanna Public need independent witnesses.
I was assaulted by a nasty local man a year or so ago. No witnesses except Mrs Mick F. We went to make statements and the police were very supportive, but in the end the case was dropped because of lack of independent witnesses.
We've hardly seen him since, so maybe having his collar felt and as he was identified by his work van put the fear of God up him. Maybe he had "form" and was cautioned or warned - I have no idea.
Re: Same for civilians?
Posted: 12 Jan 2014, 1:57pm
by irc
Well there isn't an outcome for this case yet. He hasn't been sentenced. There are examples of drivers being jailed for deliberately hitting "civilian" cyclists.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17066798
Re: Same for civilians?
Posted: 12 Jan 2014, 9:42pm
by Tonyf33
But doesn't that prove how poor things are when a vulnerable road user is struck/abused/injured/killed by a motorist and you're not an officer of the law?
The bus driver DELIBERATELY assaulted the cyclist causing a severe injury AND left the scene of the crime yet was given 17 months with parole offered after half that
Given the weapon of choice (a 7-10 ton bus) he was lucky not to kill him, like for like that was attempted murder going by what happened only recently when a car driver hit a police officer (at low speed apparently). So when you also consider that the chap on a bike whom run a red light going down hill and struck a young girl got 12 months for GBH it's all very very disproportionate.
12 month community order for car driver killing a cyclist...
http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/96 ... month_ban/the list goes on really
Re: Same for civilians?
Posted: 13 Jan 2014, 4:01pm
by binsted
Tonyf33 wrote:But doesn't that prove how poor things are when a vulnerable road user is struck/abused/injured/killed by a motorist and you're not an officer of the law?
The bus driver DELIBERATELY assaulted the cyclist causing a severe injury AND left the scene of the crime yet was given 17 months with parole offered after half that
Given the weapon of choice (a 7-10 ton bus) he was lucky not to kill him, like for like that was attempted murder going by what happened only recently when a car driver hit a police officer (at low speed apparently). So when you also consider that the chap on a bike whom run a red light going down hill and struck a young girl got 12 months for GBH it's all very very disproportionate.
12 month community order for car driver killing a cyclist...
http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/96 ... month_ban/the list goes on really
Irrespective of any custodial this should also incur a life driving ban IMHO.