Police forces that offer the option of reporting a road accident online are giving drivers the chance to go “scot-free,” the country’s leading road traffic lawyer has warned.
Nick Freeman says that registering an incident via the internet means police officers lose an opportunity to meet the driver in person and therefore glean extra information about the cause of an accident.
In doing so, the police are also “writing their own law,” since online reporting conflicts with existing road traffic legislation, which clearly states that the driver involved needs to report the incident in person at the police station.
“Many forces now have online reporting for road traffic accidents—probably because they can’t be bothered to investigate the offence,” explains Freeman, known as Mr. Loophole for securing acquittals for celebrity clients based on legal technicalities. “But offering this service demonstrates arrogance and incompetence, suggesting that the police can tweak the law to suit their needs.”
“The reason reporting an accident should be done in person is that if you are drunk, under the influence of drugs, tired, or compromised in any other way, it gives the police an opportunity to further investigate what could lie behind the offence. How are they supposed to do this if they don’t meet that person face to face? So with the introduction of online reporting, the police, ironically, become accessories to a potential crime—that is, keeping a dangerous driver on the road.”
The law defines a reportable road traffic accident as one that causes injury to a person or damage to property.
Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 requires accidents to be reported at either a police station or to a Police Constable “as soon as reasonably practicable and within 24 hours.” However, you don’t need to report a collision to the police if you’ve exchanged details at the roadside. You don’t need to exchange details if there was no accident, injury, or damage.
Freeman, whose clients include David Beckham and Jeremy Clarkson, firmly believes the Government should prevent police from offering online reporting and censure forces that do for “making up their own law as they go along.”
He adds: “Forces like the Met are writing their own law—and they don’t have the power to do that. Don’t they realise they are giving irresponsible drivers the chance to get away with blue murder by not having to be investigated in person?
“To pull the carpet from under existing legislation, which is designed to protect all road users from dangerous drivers, is a mark of both arrogance and incompetence. The police cannot be allowed to tweak the law to suit their own agenda. It must be stopped.”
About Freeman & Co.
Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.
Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.
The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.
Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.
The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.
If you are facing a road traffic matter or criminal offence and need the services of Freeman & Co. please call on 0161 236 7007.
Freeman & Co. are available for Police Station attendances and an experienced criminal lawyer is on hand to take your call.
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Our Details
Freeman & Co Solicitors
8 Oxford Court
Manchester
M2 3WQ
Tel. 0161 236 7007
