What details do I need to disclose?

UnsureAboutthis

When reporting a crime to police that is more on the lines of anti-social behaviour, what are my rights to withhold my details/name/address?

You can go via Crimestoppers but it takes even longer to get the message through to the police,

Please confirm I do not need to disclose my details for the above type of crime when reporting via phone call to 101. A link confirming my rights would be very helpful.

Another question (saves me writing another thread) it is about having a car accident ie car to car - am I legally entitled to give my name/insurance and contact details only, that is withhold my address and possibly phone number ie give email?

Aylesbury_Duck

You can withhold what you like, but you may simply be limiting what the police can do.   The police can't force you to continue the call.  If you want prompt action, it's in your interests to provide as much information as possible.  Otherwise, go down the Crimestoppers route and accept the delay.

In the event of a car accident where there are no injuries, you can give as little information as you want, but if you don't provide the other party with details, you must report it to the police within 24 hours.  So yes, name, contact and insurance details is sufficient.

user1977

Aylesbury_Duck said:

In the event of a car accident where there are no injuries, you can give as little information as you want, but if you don't provide the other party with details, you must report it to the police within 24 hours.  So yes, name, contact and insurance details is sufficient.

Though I'm not sure you can really insist on your address not being disclosed to the other party by your insurers, as ultimately that's where their insurers may need to e.g. serve a writ.

UnsureAboutthis

Sorry, it is still not clear.

!. Reporting a crime as mentioned in my OP. The caller handler at 101 has insisted I give my name/address.
I don't trust the police as the people I'm reporting may have family or friends working at the same place.
As mentioned in my OP, I am aware of anonymous reporting to CS. What I'd like to know is can I challenge the call handler at 101 and insist he or she took the complaint without my details and if so, what information/rules/rights can I direct them to?

About a minor car accident. I have looked hard on Google about the legal status of what information you must give, ie the absolute minimum to the other driver.  Years ago I read somewhere on the net you'd only have to disclose your insurance details ie company and policy number and a contact for yourself with a phone number or email. If this is correct, is there a link to any police/offical/insurance site that confirms this?

Alderbank

Legal requirements for the car accident are in s170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. You must stop following an accident and, if required to do so by any person having reasonable grounds for so requiring, give your name and address, the name and address of the owner of the vehicle and the identification marks of the vehicle. 

Note that there is no legal requirement to give any insurance details. If it's not your own car, such as one of your employer's vehicles, you probably wouldn't know them anyway.

Note also that 'name and address' doesn't include email address. Most people hadn't even heard of them back in 1988. It means your bricks and mortar address, as printed on your drivers licence.

If you don't give your name and address at the scene because there was no-one at there with reasonable grounds for knowing, you must report the accident to a police constable or police station as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case within 24 hours.

Moral - don't believe everything you read on Google.

sheramber

The call handler will want to conform or is not a malicious call.  I don’t know if they still do but they used to phone you back to confirm you had made the call. 

An anonymous call may  be put to the bottom of the pile so  not dealt with any quicker than by reporting to crime stoppers. 

UnsureAboutthis

sheramber said:

The call handler will want to conform or is not a malicious call.  I don’t know if they still do but they used to phone you back to confirm you had made the call. 

An anonymous call may  be put to the bottom of the pile so  not dealt with any quicker than by reporting to crime stoppers. 

But they would have my phone number, often the landline.
The police accept anonymous reports via Crimestoppers so why not directly is what I'm thinking and in my opinion, the call handlers have got it wrong and this is why I'm asking.

Surely the police must be aware that many people are fearful of repercussions if the offender found out who reported them. I'm convinced the call handlers just make up stuff as they go along and I have experienced that. Like all professions, not every worker is fully aware of everything and my take on this is surely they must accept complaints from people too afraid to give their name etc but happy to disclose their landline number so they can see it as well.

TheSpectator

UnsureAboutthis said:

sheramber said:

The call handler will want to conform or is not a malicious call.  I don’t know if they still do but they used to phone you back to confirm you had made the call. 

An anonymous call may  be put to the bottom of the pile so  not dealt with any quicker than by reporting to crime stoppers. 

But they would have my phone number, often the landline.
The police accept anonymous reports via Crimestoppers so why not directly is what I'm thinking and in my opinion, the call handlers have got it wrong and this is why I'm asking.

Surely the police mus be aware that many people are fearful of repercussions if the offender found out who reported them. I'm convinced the call handlers just make up stuff as they go along and I have experienced that. Like all professions, not every worker is fully aware of everything and my take on this is surely they must accept complaints from people too afraid to give their name etc but happy to disclose landline number and they can see it as well.

The police may collate intel from Crimestoppers but one call from an annonymous person about anti-social behaviour is not going anywhere tbh.

'Anti-social' behaviour covers a multitude, not all of which are criminal in nature and to be perfectly honest the police have higher priorities than look into annonymous complaints.

sheramber

UnsureAboutthis said:

sheramber said:

The call handler will want to conform or is not a malicious call.  I don’t know if they still do but they used to phone you back to confirm you had made the call. 

An anonymous call may  be put to the bottom of the pile so  not dealt with any quicker than by reporting to crime stoppers. 

But they would have my phone number, often the landline.
The police accept anonymous reports via Crimestoppers so why not directly is what I'm thinking and in my opinion, the call handlers have got it wrong and this is why I'm asking.

Surely the police must be aware that many people are fearful of repercussions if the offender found out who reported them. I'm convinced the call handlers just make up stuff as they go along and I have experienced that. Like all professions, not every worker is fully aware of everything and my take on this is surely they must accept complaints from people too afraid to give their name etc but happy to disclose their landline number so they can see it as well.

If they accepted anonymous reports on 101 why would they need Crinestoppers?

Reporting anonymously to 101 will not get attention any quicker than reporting to Crimestoppers. All calls will be graded S to importance and anti social behaviour will be down the list to serious crimes. 

If you are concerned  there are family members on the force then using Crimestoppers would be more sensible. 

Aylesbury_Duck

How seriously would you want the police to take anonymous reports about you?   Would you expect them to jump into action, or take some details from the person reporting the crime before doing so, so that there's a consequence should the reporting be malicious or scurrilous?

user1977

UnsureAboutthis said:

sheramber said:

The call handler will want to conform or is not a malicious call.  I don’t know if they still do but they used to phone you back to confirm you had made the call. 

An anonymous call may  be put to the bottom of the pile so  not dealt with any quicker than by reporting to crime stoppers. 

But they would have my phone number, often the landline.

But you also say "I don't trust the police as the people I'm reporting may have family or friends working at the same place" - why don't you think they'd trace you via your phone number if they really wanted to?

In any event, how would you enforce any complaint about this without revealing who you are?