20 replies to this topic

[DSK]

On Saturday just gone, I was tootling along with the flow of light traffic on the ring road in Coventry.  Just got through a set of traffic lights as they started to change (from green to amber) and I saw a Police Renault van travelling quite quick behind and blatantly drive through a red light in an erratic manner.

The van had no blues or two's on and just by the way it looked to be going to quick with a driver who couldn't keep it smooth suggested it was being driven by a not so very professional police officer.

The van momentarily tailgated me after driving through a red light, much to my anger as there was no need, overtook me and without indication cut across my my path, using incorrect lanes (to overtake, force his way back in and proceed to undertake the car directly infront of me), no vehicle signals and no regard for the fact that had I not been focused on this disgraceful and unskilled manner of driving he would have happily crashed into the side of my car.  Luckily I was able to slow down and swerve across 2 lanes to avoid this police van crashing into me.  Hand on heart, it was being driven like it had been stolen by criminals!

The driver was an asian chap (muslim/indian/hindu origin), a bit fat with a goatee beard.  I was so furious I chased him temporarily wanting to get his badge number or at least for my partner to record the reg number so I could report him but he continued to drive in such an unsafe manner, coupled to the fact that the van appeared to be out of control (due to a lack of driver skill) my partner talked me into leaving it.  

I was mainly rattled by the stupidness of him being happy to cause a potential accident had I not initially lifted off the accelerator and forcing me to take avoiding action giving him the space he needed to force his way back in.  (If I was in my BMW I would not have eased off despite anticipating from the reckless and erratic driving he would be looking to force his way in, I would have happily let him collide and take us both into the brick wall and watch him explain that one to his superior/manager).  

I have seen some daft driving by police officers in panda cars but this was surreal.  My partner even stated that its not often you seen a typical idiot behind the wheel drive with such disregard deliberately risking a collision.  (I have already written a letter detailing the incident and just need to find the correct address for the force in Coventry to send it off).

Is it of any use to report this incident? I'm not expecting a reply, nor do I want a reply but, I would like to hope that panda car drivers are reminded to drive like humans.  Surely if the driver was on an emergency the blue lights would be illuminated and never have I seen any police vehicle drive in an emergency or non emergency situation with disregard and a clearly unskilled manner.

[T5-Andy]

West Midlands Police
Coventry comes within the West Midlands Police area. Follow the link to view their website and find out more about their work.


Coventry's local police stations:

Little Park Street
The Little Park Street operational command unit covers Coventry city centre and the Hillfields, Coundon and Tile Hill areas.

Contact details:Little Park Street
Coventry
CV1 2JX
e-mail: little-park-street@west-midlands.ppn.police.uk


There you go

[rachelbelmont2005]

I bet you a tenner now when you get a response back he will be "on his way to an emergency"! Even without the lights or sirens.

A police van hit my husbands work van once smashing the wing mirror. I was sat in it at the time and got the reg. When we complained they said they were travelling to an emergency call....ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!

Lying gets!!

[Exocet]

You'd be surprised at what they get up to sometimes.

I was out walking late at night, perhaps 2 or 3 AM, spotted a police van coming down the road. It was travelling fairly quick for the road, went around the mini roundabout with the sliding side door wide open and two or three coppers hanging out the side. A bottle of water fell out onto the road and at least one of the coppers was staring at me, probably somewhat surprised to see someone else out so late.

I'd love for them to justify that as responding to an emergency.

[FletchV70RAWD]

Contact them with time/place of incident - they SHOULD know who was driving the van at the time.  Just as an aside don`t forget the police have `civillian` drivers to move vehicles about as well so could have been one of those.

A friend of ours lost his `Police Licence` for a year and got 6 points/fine for going through a red light with Blues and Twos on as he hit a car crossing the junction and put the Merc Sprinter van on its side !!

[steveo82]

I know from experience that some cops pass the response driving course and go back on duty and don't use any of the training they have just been given ie drive like total shite. If you had the reg you could go to IPCC with a complaint as they would take it further but DO complain anyway to west mids police regard less of REG coz you could describe the location,time of day etc and they could narrow it down as to was driving it!!!   also other road users at the time may also have reported this person for driving like a prat, so if more people shop him he won't get away with it for long

never heard of this " police licence" before, well i ain't got one, all plod what ever level of driving have qualifications but no physical licence as such

[FletchV70RAWD]

steveo82, on 20 July 2010 - 15:50 , said:

I know from experience that some cops pass the response driving course and go back on duty and don't use any of the training they have just been given ie drive like total shite. If you had the reg you could go to IPCC with a complaint as they would take it further but DO complain anyway to west mids police regard less of REG coz you could describe the location,time of day etc and they could narrow it down as to was driving it!!!   also other road users at the time may also have reported this person for driving like a prat, so if more people shop him he won't get away with it for long

never heard of this " police licence" before, well i ain't got one, all plod what ever level of driving have qualifications but no physical licence as such

Thats why it was in quotes Steve.

[steveo82]

FletchV70RAWD, on 21 July 2010 - 06:21 , said:

Thats why it was in quotes Steve.

i wasn't being funny or anything mate sorry if it appeared that way!! its not far wrong most forces use a " permit to drive" its a little card with your classes of driving ability, its basically the same as firearms officers blue cards they have dates on them to show your qualified to do a particular role with certain equipment or not as in this case maybe

apologies again if i sounded " funny" not intended:blink:

[FletchV70RAWD]

steveo82, on 21 July 2010 - 20:53 , said:

i wasn't being funny or anything mate sorry if it appeared that way!! its not far wrong most forces use a " permit to drive" its a little card with your classes of driving ability, its basically the same as firearms officers blue cards they have dates on them to show your qualified to do a particular role with certain equipment or not as in this case maybe

apologies again if i sounded " funny" not intended:blink:

No Probs Steve I was just trying to help those not in the know.  My wife has one of those things you describe above

[V70Ben]

FletchV70RAWD, on 22 July 2010 - 06:17 , said:

No Probs Steve I was just trying to help those not in the know.  My wife has one of those things you describe above

Some forces do indeed have a "police licence" as such, but also have a record of "police licence" points... which can be gathered for such things as "at fault" bumps etc. Got no link to your normal driving licence, but they will "ban" from driving police vehicles for so long and instigate retraining when totted up.

[steveo82]

FletchV70RAWD, on 22 July 2010 - 06:17 , said:

No Probs Steve I was just trying to help those not in the know.  My wife has one of those things you describe above

cool mate, so she knows as well as me then   not all forces have the same procedures in place and some are just happy its in your "P" file or person file along with anything else you have done good or bad!!!

[JJ76]

The Police drive according to their mentality.

[V70Ben]

JJ76, on 20 January 2011 - 21:23 , said:

The Police drive according to their mentality.

What a wonderfully deep and meaningful insight

[Ade]

Twice I've had to swerve to avoid having a head on collision with traffic cars!

One was over ten years ago (Rover 800!) overtaking on the brow of a hill and bend!
The other a few months ago, 5 series on the wrong side of a traffic island with no lights or siren!

[shemtek_racing]

after being tailgated for over a mile by a marked up x5 ( he didnt seem to approve of me doing 50mph in a 3.5tonne van on a unristricted A road )  he decided to overtake me when a bus was coming the other way having to brake and tuck back in behind me there were lots of oppurtinities to overtake where it was claer and well sighted i even moved over to give him a better veiw but no he chose to do it when there was on coming traffic! after tailgating me for another mile he pulled up along side me at a t junction ( i was turning right he was turning left ) i looked straight at him and gave him the wanker sign he looked embarassed and turned away lol

[T5-Andy]

Funnily enough I had a strange one on Monday heading west on the A120 about 15 miles east of Stanstead, bear in mind I've been nicked for speeding twice on the same stretch of road, this dozy twonk pulls alongside in the outside lane, I'm doing a genuine 70mph (on SatNav) and he sits there his nose in line with my B pillar, at first I didn't even realise it was the filth, then the front of this S-max lights up blue for a fraction of a second and then goes out again, we do another km or so and then he accelerates, gets past me, swerves in front and brakes, slowing to 60mph, WTF!!!!

[chopster]

You get idiots and jobsworths in all kinds of jobs... I'm not a great fan of most plod (they get that uniform on then they're on their power trip ) but I've come across a few that are ok too...

Talking of which, I was travelling down the M57 yesterday in the P2 ex plodder (a little faster than I should have been ) just as I was passing an on ramp noticed a blue 530 BMW touring with tints and a LAA numberplate (seen it around and knew it was one of their unmarked cars) that'd just pulled into the middle lane so I jump on the brakes and drop in behind him (now he knows I was speeding and knows I know he's plod) after 1/4 mile he slows to 60 (still in the middle lane) so I over take him doing 73 on a calibrated speedo and stick at that speed, he now speeds up and follows me for 4 miles, 20 yards off my bumper matching me move for move. I know he's checking me out now and I remember the car isn't on the database (MID) so I'm deffo in for a pull... get to my turn off, come down the slip road and sure enough the blues come on, I pull into a farm road that's just off the roundabout get out of the car with insurance in hand "sorry officer I know the car's not on the database and I was going a little fast before", "oh you're a motor trader eh" (in other words we know what you lot are like ) "well what about your MOT that expired in November???" The colour then drains out of my face... I'm expecting a producer and a £60 fine now "Sorry officer, I'll get it done today ", "OK then take it easy in future" ?!?! and off they went....

To say I was surprised is putting it mildly, just goes to show not all of them are barstuards

[shemtek_racing]

november? lol jammy git i got pulled afew nights ago on way home from work i gave it some beans because i was sick of being tailgated by some tit in a celica plod saw me gun it put blues on to catch up then off for one left turn then on again to pull me turned off the main raod and stopped where it was safe. a lady officer on your own approached the car i turned the car off dropped the window and put interior light on. i said " ok love?" she replaid " yes are you hun?, do you always dribe like that?" lol of course i said "like what?" . "goes well then?" she replied to which i apologized and told her i some nob was on my chuff! "she said ok ive checked the car its all ok slow it down alittle" and off she went! politest copper ive come accross. i think she had the hots for me lol

[chopster]

shemtek_racing, on 21 January 2011 - 23:04 , said:

i think she had the hots for me lol

Lol I've met you Shem I can see why































NOT!



You're right though, proper Jammy

It's funny as the day before one of the lads at work had asked if I'd been pulled in it as loads of scallies drive T5's round Liverpool (they think they can out run the plod if a quick getaway is needed ) and I'd said funnily enough I haven't... I must look to old (I mean respectable ).  Cursed myself there me thinks

[cornclose]

shemtek_racing, on 21 January 2011 - 23:04 , said:

november? lol jammy git i got pulled afew nights ago on way home from work i gave it some beans because i was sick of being tailgated by some tit in a celica plod saw me gun it put blues on to catch up then off for one left turn then on again to pull me turned off the main raod and stopped where it was safe. a lady officer on your own approached the car i turned the car off dropped the window and put interior light on. i said " ok love?" she replaid " yes are you hun?, do you always dribe like that?" lol of course i said "like what?" . "goes well then?" she replied to which i apologized and told her i some nob was on my chuff! "she said ok ive checked the car its all ok slow it down alittle" and off she went! politest copper ive come accross. i think she had the hots for me lol

I have only one question here;

"Would You ?"