reporting POLICE for danerous / reckless driving ?

[function]

this may sound bizarre, but tonight coming home from cinema I witnessed some of the most dangerous POLICE driving I've ever seen, by not 1 but 2 cars !!! Driving along a single carriageway 50mph zone, about 8 cars doing same speed,I look in my mirror and see a POLICE Zaffira over taking, on approach to a blind bend. He cuts in front of me and I give 'em a flash to show my disgust, he pulls out again and away he goes again. Approaching traffic he puts on his lights, swerves in and switches them off. Then seconds later, a car comes along side me, passenger smiling and does the same thing, right on the blind bend another car appears he swerves in with literally feet to spare !! Both these incidents were done with NO lights or sirens on !!! My question is, what's the best way to start my complaint / report. I've got the cars number plate, but not Zaffiras ? Both vehicles were marked up and were obviously late for refs. or something. I am really disgusted at what me and the Mrs have witnessed tonight. No other word for it but disgusted. When we got into a 30mph zone, the car just booted it, no lights / sirens or anything again.

[Burratha]

I suggest you write to the Duty Officer at the station that covers the area where the incident took place. The cars should have vehicle log books, that will enable the occupants of the vehicles to be identified, and spoken to in relation to the allegation made against them and their manner of driving.

What goes on once your letter has been received, is down to the local station/constabulary I'm afraid. Larking about (for want of a better phrase) whilst driving is definitely frowned upon by the police forces around the UK - I'm sure if the occupants can be identified, then appropriate action will be taken.

I recently sat a refresher course in driving, and the examiner stated the course's aims prior to us setting off.

1. To be safe
2. To be lawful
3. Not to bring embarassment on West Yorkshire Police Force due to my driving.

I'm sure these are practiced by most police forces.

I hope this has been of some use to you.

[function]

ta, have e-mailed via PCA, and written to local station. I don't usually have a thing against Police, but this just wound me up to the point where I feel somebody should complain. I know there is always a bad apple in any job. I don't want you guys thinking I'm anti-police, it's NOTHING personal against you guys.

[Burratha]

Having read your post on Scoobynet, I don't for one minute think you have..... although I'm sorry that I can't say the same against some of the others on that site :(

[VinnyP!]

Hate it when Police Driving falls short and upsets people and I'm sorry it did on this occasion, a duty officer (Inspector) as has been said will take the complaint).

On a general note I often overtake on the approach to 'Blind bends' very safely and effectively. They may not be blind from the offside of the road, a colleagure around the bend may signal me it's clear or I've made sure it's clear in other ways. I'm not suggesting it's the case this time as I wasn't there. Light's and sirens are not always used when making ground but it doesn't mean they were skylarking or it wasn't important; indeed sometimes it means it's more important.

[function]

cheers guys, will think twice before posting again like this on Scoobynet, in fact not going to bother. Geeees what the hell have I done !!!

:oops:

[GarethE]

It is a problem with SN...its not SN's fault just a matter of fact that with such a large membership certain topics will generate the sort of replies that may not be helpful....and thats not just police related either....its just a case of looking at the constructive points. However, I also feel that people have a right to free speech (so long as its legal and non libelous) and may have a reason for their comments.

I'm not a regular poster on 5ive-O, but the advice I've recieved has been extremely helpful and non judgemental, especially recently re. a possible dangerous driving charge. If I had posted that on SN the thread would have soon degenerated into a slagging of my driving, when it's safe to speed and think of other road users before asking us for sympathy type thread (although not by all members, I must add).

Just IMHO of course

[clinka]

To support VinnyP, I too have been in a marked police vehicle travelling at speed with no blue lights or sirens. As with VinnyP some bends were taken on the wrong side of the road which when travelling on the left do appear to be blind. The reason for no lights or sirens was that we were making ground on a stolen vehicle that had been involved in a serious assault. The stolen vehicle was being followed by a unmarked vehicle. Other police units were converging on the scene, and were plotting up. Control did not want to spook the stolen car, hence silent covert approach.

To the innocent driver, our behaviour could have looked foolish.

[function]

understood that, cheers, again don't have it in for you guys, this to me with him smiling like he did was out of order. Will post on here when I hear anything.

[Turbo_Steve]

In fairness, if you were a passenger being whisked a long by a police driver on full chat on the way to nick someone who you'd been after for 6 months and this was a definite collar and your driver is known for being one of the best.....you'd either be mortally scared, or grinning like a nutcase.

[clinka]

How about petrified? Not because I have no faith in the driving skills of my partner, but more because, other road users are so unpredicatable. Its bad enough trying to get to an incident with lights and sirens blaring with everyone knowing where you are and people doing the silly things like stopping dead, without travelling at speed with no warning!

However, with the story mentioned above by "function", I do not know the circumstances but if the drivers of the police vehicles were acting innapropriate they deserve to be taken to task as with all road users. Police and their vehicles are not above the law!

It will be interesting to hear what comes back. Good hunting.

PS whats Scooby Net - I'm fairly new to all this? Thanks

[Katana]

Give Buratha a pms mate. You can ask him to change your status.

[clinka]

Function - forgot to mention, personally I don't think you have anything to reproach yourself about. You appear really apologetic for something that has happened whereby you believe an official comment is in order. Whats wrong with this? If those officers were messing about, they shoudl be disciplined. If they weren't, well they have nothing to worry about. Either way, I would have thought you would hear from someone shortly. You have a right to know what was happening. Finally - fair play for acting on this!! A lot of people wouldn't have bothered.

[Maverick]

Having just read through the comments people have written, I can't and won't comment on individual jobs as i don't know the ins and outs however.... I have just completed a 5 week Police advanced driving course. Some of the overtakes i have been doing i wouldn't have dreamed of looknig at but now with hindsight and a better knowledge of driving alot of it comes to planning. Advanced drivers will clear road from other traffic as they approach you, taking advantages of looking where the road goes and looking much firther ahead. I would very much doubt that their overtakes were totally headless although there are a few officers that will spoil it for themselves and the force!