2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules

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Sat 2 May 2020 08:38
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - Zippy123

My 20 year old niece was on the way home from work (care home) last night and was stopped by the police for alleged speeding (34 in 30). Single police officer, no white band on his helmet.

They asked for her details which she tried to provide through a slightly open window because of social distancing but they insisted she got out of the car and sit in their car. She tried to pass them her driving licence and insurance certificate.

There was no suspicion of drink or drugs.

She didn't want to get out of the car as she didn't want any close social contact.

The police officer got "eggy" and pulled the door open and pushed it so far back that damaged the wing and manhandled her out of the car, dragged her out of the car and in to the back of the police car.

Surely this can't be normal and how does she claim for the damage done to the car? He said she will be reported for the speeding, which she denies. There was no video in the police car.

Edited by Zippy123 on 02/05/2020 at 08:39

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Sat 2 May 2020 09:15
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - Bromptonaut

My first thought is are we sure he was a genuine police officer?

If yes the next step is the force's complaints procedure. Trouble with that and any claim for damage to the car is that it's just two of them and it's she says/he says situation with no confirmation either way.

https://www.advicenow.org.uk/tags/police-complaints

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Sat 2 May 2020 14:54
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - Gerry Sanderson

Exactly mine too B "My first thought is are we sure he was a genuine police officer?"

34 in a 30 ? Just over border of ACPO prosecution guidelines

Unless things have changed there is no power as far as I am aware to compel driver to sit in a police car to interview. It is requested to assist the officer in his enquiries/procedures and interests of road safety. Arrest a different manner.

As suggested complaint and claim for damages to Chief Constable/Professional Standards Dept of forc4 concerned.

Seems officer if a real one been watching too much Traffic Cops (C31 tv)

Dvd

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Sat 2 May 2020 14:56
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - Gerry Sanderson

Edited by Gerry Sanderson on 02/05/2020 at 14:57

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Sat 2 May 2020 16:26
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - Middleman

34 in a 30 ? Just over border of ACPO prosecution guidelines

Just under actually. Enforcement normally begins at (Limit+10%+2mph) so 35 in a 30.

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Sat 2 May 2020 23:26
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - Avant

If your niece makes her (entirely justified) complaint, the police will be able to check whether a genuine officer was at that place at that time. What the man did amounts to assault, as well as the damage to the car.

She does need to make a complaint, as if she doesn't this could happen again.

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Sun 3 May 2020 10:29
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - Simon

I'll play devils advocate and say there are always two sides to every story...

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Sun 3 May 2020 22:16
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - Zippy123

She's 20 and gobby. She is also a carer in an old peoples home and has a heart of gold. The incident was after 22:00 on the way home from a shift at the nursing home and on a quietish road.

I have no reason to think she is not giving me all of the facts. She asked me to help out as her dad lives about 50 miles away and is on nights.

Even if she did give a load of "mouth" that is no way to treat someone - even if she did fail the attitude test.

I have googled the rules today and the consensus is that there is no obligation to get in to the back of the police car but the police expect compliance.

She drove to the local police station today and it was totally locked up, so a call was made to 101 and they advised that they "will look in to it".

On the times that I have been stopped by the BIB, I have always been treated respectfully but have never been asked to leave my car save for a breath test (after a bag full of aniseed balls) and I have never been fined or given points and have never been asked to sit in the back of a police car.

Edited by Zippy123 on 03/05/2020 at 22:22

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Sun 3 May 2020 23:02
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - ExA35Owner

Single police officer, no white band on his helmet.

What's that got to do with it, beyond pub gossip?

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Sun 3 May 2020 23:47
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - Zippy123

Single police officer, no white band on his helmet.

What's that got to do with it, beyond pub gossip?

I posted for advice, sorry if the events are not to your liking.

I thought traffic police had to wear a white / black band on their helmet. Not wearing one suggests they were not a traffic cop.

One male officer at night would supposedly be more aware of the concerns of a lone female car driver.

I would be very cautious myself of stopping in a quiet road for the police late at night and would call 101 for confirmation that it was a valid police car before unlocking a door or winding a window down.

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Wed 6 May 2020 17:36
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - ExA35Owner

My point being that the issue of colour of hat is sometimes cited as a reason why a police officer can or can't do some things. A police officer in uniform can require a driver to stop. So that's not a relevant point. And traffic police have no more and no fewer powers than police deployed on other duties.

Did you contact the police to follow these events up?

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Wed 6 May 2020 23:13
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - Zippy123

Did you contact the police to follow these events up?

Yes and their response was "there is no record of a police stop at the time and date".They said that they checked the whole 24 hours either side of the time she said just in case an error in timing was made. Niece and I believe them.

Two police officers turned up at her place to take details and spent about 3/4 of an hour with her and gave her a crime reference number. Description of the person taken. No finger prints swabbed from car.

I would be more worried that someone is potentially going around pretending to be a police officer and if this is the case then my niece had a lucky escape.

Nieces boyfriend is a panel beater and will repair the car in due course. Front and rear dashcams to be fitted.

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Thu 7 May 2020 09:09
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - gordonbennet

Was this a marked up police car or a supposed umarked vehicle, and were blue lights in use.

Regardless, it's a disturbing incident and very glad it wasn't worse still for your niece, don't suppose in the event she happened to catch the reg of the vehicle, quite understandable mind because few of us would expect to encounter someone posing as a police officer, hope the old bill catch this person soonest.

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Wed 13 May 2020 20:31
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - Zippy123

Was this a marked up police car or a supposed umarked vehicle, and were blue lights in use.

Silver BMW, blue lights from grill. Unfortunately she didn’t get the number. Her boss has been escorting her and other staff home on late shifts now (in a car behind) and will continue to do so until the roads get busier again.
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Thu 14 May 2020 16:01
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - concrete

Sounds dreadful Zippy. No wonder she was a little shaken. Sounds suspiciously like an imposter playing policeman. Even if she is a bit 'gobby' as you say, an experienced officer can handle that no bother. There is no form of verbal banter or abuse they have not dealt with before. As for manhandling her, that is just unbelievable. Unless resisting arrest or applying the handcuffs there would be no need at all for any contact. I think she has had a lucky escape and this idiot just likes play acting, be thankful it was nothing more sinister. A lone female who is genuinely fearful of opening the car to even a police officer is within her rights to have a police woman attend and not engage other than to state she is frightened and wishes another woman officer in attendance. tell her to keep carrying her lucky charm. Hopefully the police will get to the bottom of this and be alert for this character.

Cheers Concrete

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Tue 19 May 2020 14:55
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - concrete

Just an update. I related this story to my daughter, who is a serving police officer. She happened to arrest someone for a similar offence. They had a white vehicle and had fitted blue lights behind the front grill. They had a police uniform and would stop people randomly for whatever reason. When arrested his vehicle was impounded too. Not a common offence but a serious one.

She made two points. Firstly you can open the window enough to establish contact and a reason for the stop. You can also demand to inspect the officers warrant card, wether in uniform or not. This is usually enough to make an imposter run. A forged warrant card is a really serious offence and a step too far for most offenders. Sounds like your relative had a lucky escape. Cheers Concrete

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Sun 31 May 2020 02:29
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - Zippy123

Thanks Concrete!

I have some close mates in the force but don't tend to trouble them re police queries- its not fair they work long enough in the job and I don't want to get them in a "situation" which this could have been if it was an officer.

I did mention it to them when I went out for a socially distanced walk last weekend and they confirmed exactly what you said.

Have spoken with my niece in detail and there were some aspects of the person which suggest he was a wrong un and she has been very lucky. No such luck with catching him though but without a number plate that's going to prove very difficult.

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Sun 31 May 2020 14:58
2004 Nissan Micra - Police Back Seat Rules - concrete

Well done Zippy. They should report it to colleagues to be aware of this. These imposters will repeatedly offend, they get too much of a kick from their activities, so he will do it again until caught. Get you niece to put some details on social media so her friends can be made aware of the danger. My daughter and her colleague only happened upon their offender in the act purely by chance, but they nicked him right enough. And he lost his vehicle too.

Cheers Concrete

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