Action Vision Zero blog
December 2023
Key points
- The GLA Police and Crime Committee holding an inquiry into serious injury collision investigation.
- Call for evidence has been published (first oral evidence session can be watched here).
- This is a key opportunity to raise the importance of thorough investigations.
- Deadline to respond is 22 December.
The Greater London Assembly (GLA) Police and Crime Committee is holding an inquiry into serious collision investigation. This is believed to be the first time any Police and Crime committee has reviewed collision investigation in England and Wales.
The inquiry began on 22 November with campaigners, support service providers and solicitors giving evidence on problems the seriously injured encounter. Victoria Lebrec and Amy Aeron-Thomas from Action Vision Zero gave evidence. The session benefited from the input of solicitors Rory McCarron from Leigh Day and Dushal Mehta from Field Fisher. You can watch the session here.
Key points raised were the
- Lack of consistency with investigations and communication with victims/families.
- Fragmented approach to injury investigation with different units within the police involved
- Missed opportunities to collect evidence at the scene which greatly impacted chance at criminal and civil justice
- Need for better training to be given to the borough officers who collect evidence at the scene. This could include a checklist of what they should collect.
- Reluctance to prosecute without independent evidence.
Call for evidence
A call for evidence has been published. Questions posed are:
1. Have you been affected by serious injury collisions in London? What impact have you experienced?
2. What is your experience of the Met’s investigation of serious injury collisions in London?
3. In your view, are serious injury collisions in London adequately investigated? Why?
4. How do the investigations of serious injury collisions affect road crash victims and their families?
5. What level of support is in place in London for victims of serious injury collisions and their families? What more is needed?
6. How well does the Met communicate its serious injury collision investigation work, including information to victims concerning the investigation process, timeline and charging decisions?
7. In your experience, how easy is it to acquire information from the Met when it is necessary for victims’ access to civil compensation following a collision?
8. What more could the Met be doing to increase confidence in the police investigation and charging decision after a serious injury collision?
9. In your view, is the Met sufficiently resourced and trained to carry out investigations into serious injury collisions? Why?
10. How could the Met’s serious injury collision investigation work best contribute to achieving the Mayor’s Vision Zero target of eliminating deaths and serious injuries from London’s roads?
Please do respond to scrutiny@london.gov.uk. You don’t have to answer all the questions.
Nor is this consultation limited to only those who have already been seriously injured in a collision. The risk of being seriously injured hangs over all of us. But the risk is not the same. Most motorists have comprehensive motor insurance so they are covered. This is not so with people walking and cycling. We need the police to investigate so that civil liability can be determined fairly.
Action Vision Zero will be posting more blogs about this inquiry. On 24th January, the police will have their chance to respond. That too will be broadcast live and recorded.
Contact Action Vision Zero (Victoria@ActionVisionZero.org) for more information and please do share your response with us. We are always keen to learn.
actionvisionzero.org 