Public invited to contribute to Police Road Death Investigation Policy

A consultation will focus on police standards when responding, reporting and investigating, road traffic collisions and will influence an agreed policy and guidance published by ACPO.

ACPO’s last review of its Road Death Investigation Manual (RDIM) was carried out in 2007.

Assistant Chief Constable Sean White, ACPO lead for the investigation of fatal and life changing road collisions across England and Wales, said:

“The police service is committed to preventing and reducing the loss of life or serious injury on our roads.

“Long-term trends indicate that together with other agencies we are achieving that ambition. However, in 2011 in England and Wales on average five people still lost their lives on our roads every day, 63 people sustained serious injuries and hundreds of others suffered other injuries.”

Reported road deaths have reduced from about 5,500 a year in the mid 1980s to fewer than 2,000 last year (2011).

Over the same period, reported road casualties have decreased from 240,000 to just over 200,000.

ACC Sean White encouraged the public to comment on how they would like to see police respond, investigate and report on road traffic collisions, including bereaved family and friends who have had firsthand experience of police involvement.

He added: “Families quite rightly expect their police service to prevent and reduce these collisions from occurring and in the unexpected event that it impacts upon them they are entitled to the best service and support to aid them through such difficult time.

“We are committed to listening to their experiences and views as well as those of partner agencies, and to updating and amending our policy and practices to keep pace with and, where possible, exceed expectations.”

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive at Brake, the road safety charity, commented: “We welcome this review of the Road Death Investigation Manual, and look forward to continuing to work with police to prevent crashes and support families whose lives are turned upside down by these tragic events. As a charity providing national support services to people affected by a road death or serious injury, we bear witness to the terrible devastation these collisions cause. It is critical these families get the help they need, and that we learn from collisions to prevent further tragedies; police work liaising with victims and investigating crashes is fundamental to this. We are proud to work with every force in the country to support road crash victims, and pleased to have this opportunity to develop that work further.”

The consultation is open until 7^th September 2012 and comments can be made by filling out a consultation form via the Cleveland Police website: http://www.cleveland.police.uk/contact-us/ManualReview1.aspx or by writing to ACC Sean White via Cleveland Police Headquarters, PO Box 70, Ladgate Lane, Middlesbrough, TS8 9EH.

Amy Aeron-Thomas, executive director of RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims, said: “A thorough investigation is essential for justice.

“Without it, there is no chance of understanding what caused the collision, if someone should be prosecuted, the victim should be compensated, or how risk can be reduced in the future.

“With road deaths outnumbering homicides by three to one and all of us using the roads, the importance of police collision investigation cannot be over overstated.”

At the end of the review a draft, revised road death investigation strategy and guidance will be published that will aim to provide direction for the next five years.

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

ACC Sean White is available for interview. To arrange an interview please contact ACPO Communications on 020 7084 8859.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) figure from June 2012 show that there are 44, 784, 122 licensed drivers in the UK and 5, 755, 223 UK drivers are under 25- http://www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/ .

The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, co-ordinates the strategic policing response.

ACPO’s 329 members consist of 242 chief police officers from the home forces of assistant chief constable rank (commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, plus 66 senior police staff members from the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Non home forces such as British Transport Police have 21 chief police officer members and there are three members from the Service Police.

CONTACTS

RoadPeace is an independent national charity, providing practical information, emotional support and advocacy to those affected by road crashes. Founded in 1992 by a bereaved mother, RoadPeace campaigns for justice for road crash victims and for road danger reduction, with a focus on reducing the volume, speed and dominance of motorised traffic and promoting cycling and walking.

RoadPeace - amy.aeron-thomas@roadpeace.org or 020 7733 1603
There are a number of families who are willing to speak about the importance of collision investigation on behalf of RoadPeace and can be contacted via Amy on the above number.

About Brake: Brake is an independent road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the five deaths and 66 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake runs awareness-raising campaigns, community education programmes, events such as Road Safety Week (19-25 November 2012), and a Fleet Safety Forum, providing advice to companies. Brake’s support division

news@brake.org.uk or 01484 550067

The response of the police service of England and Wales in preventing, reducing and responding to such incidents is set out within the recently published and revised ACPO strategy: ‘Policing the Roads – Five Year Strategy 2011-15’ http://www.acpo.police.uk/documents/uniformed/2011/20111116%20UOBA%20PolicingtheRoadYearStrategy2011_2015.pdf

Reported Road Casualties Great Britain, 2011 (Dept. for Transport (DfT) statistics) can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/releases/reported-road-casualties-gb-main-results-2011/

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk