17/09/2004

Police to cut back on road traffic accident attendence

Police officers will no longer attend the scene of a minor road accident it was confirmed today.

Research carried out by the Police Service's anti-bureaucracy task force recently established that officers were spending too much time on attending slight collisions.

Last year alone police in Northern Ireland were called to more than 25,000 collisions, the majority of which were minor.

Chief Inspector Kee pointed out that police are not required to attend road traffic collisions unless there is a need to provide evidence for criminal proceedings, or information for the coroner in the case of a fatal crash.

Under the new system, those involved in a 'non-attendance' collision will be issued with a Collision Care Pack by post or e-mail.

Slight contact such as a clash of wing mirrors, damaged bumper, dented bodywork and damaged fencework caused by a vehicle leaving the road are defined as non-attendance. Also included in the category is injury to an animal, damage reported after the parties have left the scene and reporting of a minor collision by a member of the public.

(MMCG/MB)

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