I may be in the 5hit.............

[richie]

As the title says realy.

Last Wednesday I had a rear end shut whilst in a Skoda loan car. The woman who hit me was not happy with my attitude as I enforced the legal requirement under the road traffic act for name and address etc. Yes, I was pi55ed off but not rude or abusive.

She tolde me she was calling the police to the scene ( bear in mind I had allready ID myself as off duty police ). Kent police did not trun up and told her so, as there was no injury etc.

I provided the woman with all the details I could regarding the Skoda I was driving and like wise for the Skoda garage. I had called the garage and informed them of the accident and they asked me to go back so they could check the car over.

The woman continued to rant and rave and got very cross when I refused to admit that the Skoda was undamaged. Yes, there were no marks on the bumper, but was there other damage I could not see???? In the end, I told the woman to call Skoda and give them her insurance details and sort it out with them, got in the car and returned to the garage.

The Skoda was fine, luckily, it could have cost me £250 excess.

Anyway, today a Kent skipper turned up at home asking me for my line managers details as the woman had made a formall complaint!!! He did say it was nothing to worry about and it would all be delt with quickly. I told him I was not Kent police, but from another force. He said that it would be passed on to my Inspector to deal with, but it was still nothing to worry about.

Great, a nice day all in all.

[VRStu]

If you did nothing wrong then surely there isn't an issue.

[Fezboy]

So a woman hits YOU and then makes a complaint against you

[richie]

Originally Posted by VRStu

If you did nothing wrong then surely there isn't an issue.

Yup, thats what I thought. But we are talking MoD police here.........................Guilty till proved innocent with this lot

[Tom_vRS]

Don't worry about it pal, I'm sure you'll be fine... She's clearly embarassed about crashing and is trying to make herself feel better by getting someone else in trouble...

Good luck with it though!

[richie]

Originally Posted by Fezboy

So a woman hits YOU and then makes a complaint against you

Yup, it was all about my attitude apparently. Yes, I was cross. The Skoda was not mine, thats what peeeeeed me off more than anything else. If I had been rude or swearing then fine. I think the clincher was when I refused to admit that the Skoda was undamaged. To the eye it was fine, but what was the damage underneath the bumper?? I could not tell.

Luckily the little Ferbi was fine.

[richie]

Originally Posted by Tom_vRS

Don't worry about it pal, I'm sure you'll be fine... She's clearly embarassed about crashing and is trying to make herself feel better by getting someone else in trouble...

Good luck with it though!

Trying not to worry. I think you may have a point though. The Kent skipper was of the same oppinion, but it's not Kent police I'm worrying about. It's my force.

[anonymouse]

The woman is obviously a total plonka

But, really, you shouldn't have put a brochure for SpecSavers on her front seat

She's being a tw*t and, in some ways, seemingly trying to shift the blame.
We know you're mad - but not mad enough to reverse up and over her bonnet

[mattbeef]

You will be fine mate, you didnt have to tell her you were an off duty officer.

Im sure that it will be errmmmm brushed away is the best thing i can say

[cjb]

I fail to see how you are in the ****. You have done nothing wrong.

[FOZ1]

She hit you from behind, ergo her fault no argument.
As you were not rude & abusive you should have nothing to worry about. Just explain calmly & clearly what happened & that although the car showed no signs of damage, you are not qualified to say that the car was undamaged, that is what the insurance pay inspectors to find out.
Let your insurance know too, as they may be able to help you with reports etc,


Hope it all turns out alright for you mate, let us know.

[westerdam2]

It should be ok as far as the complaint is concerned.

You might want to double check your Force Policy re being involved in an accident as an off duty officer. Might also be worthwhile making a discreet mention to your Insp asap ie before any official word comes through the 'system'.

Annoying - especially when you are the innocent party - hope it all works out without any probs.

[mathepac]

Originally Posted by richie

Trying not to worry. I think you may have a point though. The Kent skipper was of the same oppinion, but it's not Kent police I'm worrying about. It's my force.

richie, my sympathies on a crappy situation.

I don't want to sound like I'm trying to teach grannie how to suck eggs, but if you haven't done so already, document verbatim (to the best of your ability) each exchange you had with Ms. Complainant.

If your own organisation wants to interview you in relation to the complaint or the accident, have a legal / union representative with you and keep your own notes of what transpires.

Like you, I happen to work in a job where there are different criteria regarding standards of behaviour and the investigation of complaints than those that apply to Joe Public. There are times when I just feel like a sittiing duck, waiting for the next idiot to take a pot-shot. All complaints, even obviously malicious ones, have to be investigated and reported on, and if "management" regard the complaint seriously enough, I can be suspended from duty, WITHOUT PAY!!

Look after yourself and your career, because no-one else will.

[mdk1]

Chin up Richie, as others have said get a quiet word in first with your boss.

[Emily-Elizabeth]

As far as I can work out - Is the issue that you showed your warrant card to the lady?

She sounds like a right nutter - did she actually call 999 for a bit of bumper damage? I can't believe the stupid reasons that people call 999 - really minor stuff that then gets passed on to us.

She would have two hopes in getting the Police to attend a non injury RTC - it is hard enough to get them to attend an injury/allegations one!

[dou91e]

i would stick a nice claim 4 whiplash up her +++ and see how she likes them apples
rear end shunt her fault
she rants like a madwoman i would go out of my way to pi++ her off

[VRSPhil]

Originally Posted by Emily-Elizabeth

As far as I can work out - Is the issue that you showed your warrant card to the lady?

I think it's more that the lady is accusing Richy of being rude and/or abusive, which if it were true, would be unacceptable from a police officer be them on or off duty.

Richie, I'm sure you'll be OK in the long run. I know how worrying these things can be, but ultimately your inspector is likely to know you, and I'm sure he/she will accept your account of events. It's still unnecessary stress, though . Best of luck.

[ap0gee]

It's your word against hers in the end, so just stick to your story and you should be fine. She's the one who's 'embellishing' the course of events, so the more she jabbers on, the more chance there is that she'll say something that contradicts her own story...

[richie]

Thanks folks. I'm going to speak with the federation rep this morning and my Inspector, see how things stand

[richie]

Originally Posted by westerdam2

It should be ok as far as the complaint is concerned.

You might want to double check your Force Policy re being involved in an accident as an off duty officer. Might also be worthwhile making a discreet mention to your Insp asap ie before any official word comes through the 'system'.

Annoying - especially when you are the innocent party - hope it all works out without any probs.

Spoke to my boss and federation rep today. Both of the oppinion it's a sack of cack. However,if the complaint is against me the police officer, then it will have to be passed onto the complaints dept. If its from Kent police to my boss telling him to "have a word" then my boss said it will go no further.