Taxi driver who deliberately swerved into cycling policeman could face jail

pepelepew_2724 wrote:

What is most likely in this case are 2 things.

1) Somewhat regrettably the investigating officers are showing some more enthusiasm than they may otherwise have done. Which is undoubtedly linked to;
2) the victim is this matter is a professional who is well versed in the evidential requirements and is robust enough to actually be willing to attend court.

Lots of people report things and think that once they have done that it will be the end of any involvement on their part. They then complain on forums saying the police did nothing.

Some of this reads like a Daily Mail comments section. The police workforce is no different to any other occupation. Some people are lazy. Some are dishonest. Most work hard and want to do a good job.

You want to take a look at martin porter's blog if you'd like to see what the weight of evidence required for the CPS to take up a case like this is normally. He's a QC, so fulfils your requirements of being "well versed in the evidential requirements and is robust enough to actually be willing to attend court"

http://thecyclingsilk.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/police-caution-for-unprovok... is a good one to start with

Dave Atkinson wrote:

You want to take a look at martin porter's blog if you'd like to see what the weight of evidence required for the CPS to take up a case like this is normally. He's a QC, so fulfils your requirements of being "well versed in the evidential requirements and is robust enough to actually be willing to attend court"

http://thecyclingsilk.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/police-caution-for-unprovok... is a good one to start with

Oh I've seen that Dave. Still dumbfounded why some drivers are ignored by the system intended to punish them.

My wife was a victim of a serious RTC on a bike 17 months ago and still struggles with injury and PTSD to this day. She even supported CTC by making a film of her RTC for their Road Justice campaign. Some of you may have seen it. Just search CTC road justice and it is the highest viewed video. Still makes for harrowing viewing for me. And for the record - I was less than impressed by the 'service' we received from the police. Even considering I have worked with the bobby dealing before (not same force but close by) she and I still felt let down by the system.

nostromo wrote:

Police officer's training and experience was probably key in giving good evidence such as accurate time of offence and circumstances, plus of course the partial plate and make/model/colour of car. he may have also noticed it was a taxi, which would have made identifying it easier.

He did this despite being knocked to the floor, while the vehicle drove off.

How many of us could do the same?

The successful prosecution here has as much to do with the victim's skillset as it does with 'preferential' treatment by the Force or CPS.

Well..I've remembered 4 number plates, makes and colours of vehicles whose drivers tried to kill me in several minutes, where's my justice like this? non-existant.

northstar wrote:

nostromo wrote:

Police officer's training and experience was probably key in giving good evidence such as accurate time of offence and circumstances, plus of course the partial plate and make/model/colour of car. he may have also noticed it was a taxi, which would have made identifying it easier.

He did this despite being knocked to the floor, while the vehicle drove off.

How many of us could do the same?

The successful prosecution here has as much to do with the victim's skillset as it does with 'preferential' treatment by the Force or CPS.

Well..I've remembered 4 number plates, makes and colours of vehicles whose drivers tried to kill me in several minutes, where's my justice like this? non-existant.

Well, apart from being super observant, you are certainly very unlucky. I've never had a driver try and kill me in 40 years of cycling.

adriank999 wrote:

Further to the comments about the lady running down the cyclist and this post, there is a BIG difference between an accident and a deliberate act that could result in death. I note where the charge is due care and attention the critics pile in but how many of them have never made a simple mistake in their lives? Unfortunately a simple mistake involving a cyclist could be a minor injury or death. The charge and sentence should reflect the act not the result.

As I said on that thread, I don't entirely agree. The difference isn't always big (sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't), and how big it appears can also depend on who is looking at it.

When one group is collectively and consistently careless with the safety of another group, then it becomes little different from 'intent' as far as I'm concerned. The reckless group have collectively decided to endanger the other group. That's a kind of 'intent'.

oozaveared wrote:

Lots of comments on here about this guy only getting prosecuted because he did it to a cop and that cops don't protect us.

I only have one incident to report that involved me calling the police. A white van forcing me to the curb then the passenger hosing me down with a bottle of juice.

I got my phone out of my pocket and reported it right there and then. That was a Thursday evening at around 6.30. I was called back later that evening at around 8pm and an appointment was made to come and take a statement at my home.

The outcome was that the driver was identified. Though not the passenger. Was prosecuted for dangerous driving. Was given 6 points and a fine. The six points added to his total and therefore he was banned.

The police seemed to take it seriously. Now it may be that they had an interest in this particular driver. He had a number of points already! Maybe there were other reports and incidents that made him a person they were keen to pursue. Maybe me being at the time 50. An advanced driver etc helped them take my account a bit more seriously. Maybe the officer dealing with it was a cyclist. I don't know But it was dealt with pretty well and better than I expected.

Encouraging to hear such things do sometimes get treated seriously. And in any case the police are also at the mercy of the CPS who in turn have to take into account the prejudices of juries and magistrates etc, so ultimately its the wider culture that's the issue, I'd say.

You make an interesting point about the standard expected of professional drivers, but sadly anyone who rides a bike regularly knows that a large number of so-called professional drivers are anything but.

Being a professional driver gives a great many lorry drivers, van drivers and taxis drivers a massive sense of self-worth and entitlement to hog the road, while giving them nothing in the way of increased skills or empathy with cyclists or pedestrians.

I get bored of hearing professional drivers saying how well trained they are when there's plenty of evidence they're no safer to cycle around than the average car driver, and are often worse.