Collision investigation

Aim: Serious injury collisions to be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.

Why this work

  • 10 people a day are reported seriously injured on London’s roads
  • Over half were hit whilst walking or cycling
  • Fewer than 5% will have their collision investigated by a police officer with specialist training
  • Only 1% will see a driver convicted of a serious offence (causing serious injury by dangerous, disqualified or careless driving)
  • It is unknown how many drivers causing a serious injury will be prosecuted for the lesser offence of careless driving (this is not monitored)
  • Walkers and cyclists are the most likely to suffer serious injury in a collision and the least likely to have insurance so need thorough investigations for compensation to be decided fairly and timely.

Need

Thorough serious injury collision investigation is needed so that:

  • Victims access fair and timely compensation and help them recover
  • Offenders are detected, sanctioned and deterred
  • Circumstances and causes of collisions are better understood for countermeasures
  • Public have confidence in the police ability to investigate serious injury collisions thoroughly.

Challenges

In addition to an overstretched and underfunded police service, challenges include:

  • Fragmented responsibilities with different police units involved
  • Lack of training and priority given to collecting evidence at-scene and follow-up investigation
  • Charging decisions based on incomplete information
  • Lack of transparency, inc. with investigation outcomes and the reasons for No Further Action (NFA)
  • Limited communication with victims
  • Greater problem for people walking and cycling–the modes being promoted

What we want

  • Road danger reduced
  • Better evidence collected at scene by trained officers
  • Witness statements collected from victims and witnesses
  • Fair and consistent charging decisions–with law breaking drivers prosecuted
  • Better treatment of victims—do not add to their suffering
  • Increased transparency and accountability
  • Review of NFA decisions—show these are not down to lack of investigation or unconscious bias
  • Greater transparency with procedures and outcomes—give the public reasons to have confidence in police investigations
  • Local engagement and empowerment
  • Improved communication with solicitors with compensation facilitated
  • Collaboration with campaigners, solicitors and victims in improving investigations

What AVZ is doing

  • Successfully lobbied for the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee to conduct an inquiry into serious injury collision investigation –the first in the country
  • Now working to ensure the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee’s report and recommendations on serious injury collision investigation are  implemented.
  • Coordinating a working group of solicitors, police consultants, campaigners and victims to improve our capacity to campaign for change.
  • Documenting the key issues through blogs and briefings.
  • Conducting a survey of seriously injured victims
  • Sharing the lessons of London with other campaigners

More information