The Met must ensure training for Met officers attending collision
scenes is strengthened to increase public trust in the way
serious traffic collisions are investigated.
That is the view of the London Assembly Police and Crime
Committee that has today published its
report – ‘Police investigation of serious injury collisions
in London’ – which highlights the importance of justice for
victims, and informing future preventative interventions.
In 2022, 23,465 road collisions were reported to the police in
London, compared to 25,637 in 2019.[1]
These collisions resulted in 102 people being killed, 3,859
people seriously injured and 23,246 people slightly injured.
The Mayor's Transport Strategy sets out his goal for Vison Zero
for London. It states that the Mayor’s aim is for “all deaths and
serious injuries from all road collisions to be eliminated from
the streets by 2041”.[2] Vision Zero
includes the following targets:
- By 2022 – reduce the number of people who are killed or
seriously injured by 65 per cent against 2005-09 levels
- By 2030 – reduce the number of people who are killed or
seriously injured by 70 per cent against 2010-14 levels
- By 2041 – eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from road
collisions from London’s streets.[3]
RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims, has said
that:
“A good investigation is essential to achieving
justice and reducing road danger – without this, law breaking
escapes detection, fair compensation is hampered, prevention
programmes are limited, victims suffer secondary victimisation,
and public lack confidence in police interest in protecting them,
thus deterring many from walking and cycling. It is the
cornerstone for justice on our roads”.[4]
The Committee’s report outlines 11
recommendations for the Met and the Mayor to improve the current
investigative processes when responding to serious injury road
collisions.
Recommendations include:
- By 31 December 2024, the Met should review its guidance and
training offered to police officers attending the scene of a
collision to ensure they understand what is required and that all
necessary “basic checks” are being completed.
- The Met should develop an action plan for how it will ensure
all officers who are involved in the investigation of serious
injury collisions are equipped with the most up to date guidance
and training, and provide an update to this Committee on planned
extra training for collision investigators by 31 December 2024.
The Met should also consider how it can involve organisations
that support road traffic victims in the design and provision of
this additional training.
- The Mayor should work with the Met to create information
guides to distribute to victims and their families to ensure they
know what service and minimum standards to expect from the Met
during an investigation.
- The Met should ensure every road crash victim that has
life-threatening or life changing injuries, and their family, has
access to a dedicated family liaison officer (FLO).
AM, Chair of the
London Assembly Police and Crime Committee,
said:
“Campaigning to reduce the danger on our roads is what
brought me into politics. It’s an issue I care personally about,
and I am so glad to have the Police and Crime Committee look at
this in depth for the first time in the history of the
Assembly.
“Every Londoner should be able to pick up their child from
school or pop out to the shops for a pint of milk and get home
safely. But unfortunately, that isn’t always the case.
“Serious injury collisions have a devastating impact on
victims and their families. Ensuring they receive high standards
of support throughout the investigation, and that the
investigation is carried out thoroughly are both highlighted in
our report as areas that need urgent
improvement.
“We heard that while the hundred most serious collisions get
a forensic investigation many serious collisions do not. This has
shaped our recommendations calling for improved training for
officers, better information sharing, and access to a dedicated
family liaison officer for victims and their families.
“I urge the Met to take our recommendations forward. Improved
collision investigation will help London achieve the Vision Zero
target of no deaths or serious injuries on our roads by
2041.”
Notes to editors:
- TfL, Road safety
dashboard
- Mayor of London, Mayor’s Transport
Strategy, March 2018
- Ibid
- RoadPeace, APPG Cycling Justice for
Cyclists inquiry: RoadPeace response, January 2017
