Car identified after hit and run but police taking no action

thetcutkid

Hi,

My friend's car was hit while parked outside my house.

The collision was hard enough to set the alarm off (which was the thing that alerted us) by the time we got out there the driver had driven off, however, a neighbour saw the car drive off, and got 4 letters of the number plate and told us it was a black car.

The damage to my friend's car was on the rear bumper which has been deeply scratched and split in places, plus it has been forced down onto the exhaust, causing issues with that as well.

They filled in an online form, without much hope and unsurprisingly, the police said they couldn't proceed due to lack of evidence (my neighbour was contacted by them as a witness and filled in a statement etc).

By sheer fluke, about a week later, we noticed a black Mercedes parked in a drive further up the road with the same 4 numbers on the registration plate. My friends got back in touch with the police with this new info and the full reg no. and the police said they'd reopen the case.

This week my friends have again been contacted by the police saying they are again, not taking any action BUT provided my friends with the insurance details of the owner of the merc!!?

So how does that work then - the police must've been in touch with the driver and presumably he was happy to provide his/her details, in which case, isn't that admitting driving away from the scene of an accident and therefore illegal?

thetcutkid

We've got the insurance details of the car that failed to stop by pure chance.

I was under the impression that failing to stop and report an accident was an offence?

Tigsteroonie

It is an offence but it'll be up to the CPS whether they want to take the case to court. Not every offence goes to court. As nobody was injured and both parties are insured, there's not much to be gained from a court case; it wouldn't really be worth the magistrates' time.

Car_54

Most likely there is simply insufficient evidence to bring a prosecution. All the sole witness would be able to provide is an incomplete reg. number.

Presumably the police - or indeed the OP's friend - could have obtained the insurance details without any input from the owner, let alone a confession.

phill99

You will struggle to prove that it was the car you think it is. As you don't have an independent witness that can recall the WHOLE reg number, there is no evidence. Just because you found a car later on with a similar number, you have added 2 and 2 and got 17.

thetcutkid

I understand the fact it's a minor offence and nobody died etc etc but why would the owner offer up his insurance details if he didn't do it?

Or are we saying that the police could actually supply his insurance details without first speaking to the owner?

Quentin

thetcutkid wrote: »

I understand the fact it's a minor offence and nobody died etc etc but why would the owner offer up his insurance details if he didn't do it?

Or are we saying that the police could actually supply his insurance details without first speaking to the owner?

Yes the police can do this


(As already posted askmid will tell you as well without seeking the policyholder's consent)

thetcutkid

Ok, thanks all for your input, much appreciated.

Geoff1963

If it was a serious criminal offence, forensics could check both cars for the physical location of the damage, and any transfer evidence. They could check local garages for any repairs.

Does the Merc. park facing the house or the road ? You would presumably need some photos of any front end damage it has.

I'm not sure about this one ; but if your friend is claiming off their insurance, it might be worth giving the company all the information. Maybe the Merc driver is busy making a ( fraudulent ) claim that someone did a hit and run on his car.

Strider590

I know it's frustrating, but there are many reasons why the Police might not take action:

"Not in the interest of the public" = "Police informant"
Friends
Family
Local councillors
Political correctness

I'm afraid their hands are often tied in all directions.

unforeseen

You missed cost. If the driver denies it they would further hours police work and possibly my forensics. Not really cost effective for a few scrapes and no injuries.