Letter from Police about collision with parked car.

Car1980

Happened to us back in the autumn. Mad woman chased after the car shouting we'd hit her parked car. We just drove away and reported it using the online form on the police website, denying we'd hit anything.

They sent us a message a few hours later saying we'd be absolved of any wrongdoing under the RTA 1988 and we never heard anything about it ever again. 

BlueVinney

Thanks to everyone who's given advice so far. Would also appreciate input from anyone else, although I'll take these around to show him the ideas up 'til now. 'Thanks' will be ticked for any he has found helpfull after I get feedback from him.

Mojisola

Brie said:

Someone must have seen the incident and given someone (the hit car's owner?) the reg number in order for the police to contact anyone. 

Possibly the person who actually hit the other car and made note of the next car number they saw to give to the police.

Sarahspangles

It’s a reportable road traffic collision if there is damage to another vehicle.  https://www.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rs/road-safety/collisions/

You’re supposed to exchange details at the time.  Assuming your friend clipped the other car but didn’t realise, the Police seem to be giving him the benefit of the doubt but will pass on details so the other driver (and your friend) can sort this out through insurance.

SpudGunPaul

Sarahspangles said:

It’s a reportable road traffic collision if there is damage to another vehicle.  https://www.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rs/road-safety/collisions/

You’re supposed to exchange details at the time.  Assuming your friend clipped the other car but didn’t realise, the Police seem to be giving him the benefit of the doubt but will pass on details so the other driver (and your friend) can sort this out through insurance.

Difficult if you're unaware of any collision. 

Ditzy_Mitzy

I used to deal with these years ago.  The police take reports of accidents, driver known or unknown, and then process any possible reports for criminal offences.  Nothing the police do involves insurance (other than prosecutions for driving without), as that is a civil matter and anything legal is done on the other track.  It is up to the drivers involved to inform the insurance companies.

What seems to have happened here is that someone - the aggrieved party or a witness or the man on the Clapham Omnibus - has gone into a police station and reported that at time x in place y, a vehicle bearing the registration mark whatever hit another vehicle or item of property.  The police then carry out basic enquiries to work out if there is anything for them to do, the first stage of which is speaking to the registered keeper of the reported vehicle to see what he has to say.  Occasionally that may take the form of a voluntary interview under caution, but informal inquiries are often preferred in the initial stages.  

All the friend can do is wait and see, but the likelihood is that nothing much will happen.  If nothing has been heard from the insurer of the car that was supposedly hit, I'd speculate that the individual reporting the matter to the police was a third party with no direct interest.  That makes further action even less likely.