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Investigating fatal collisions. RoadPeace conference Wednesday 22 nd September 2010. Date Arial 14pt. Terms of reference. All collisions that result in a fatality.
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Investigating fatal collisions RoadPeace conferenceWednesday 22nd September 2010 Date Arial 14pt
Terms of reference • All collisions that result in a fatality. • Collisions that result in permanent life changing injuries and where aggravating factors mean the RDIU should take the investigation.
The history of Road Death Investigation • 1896, Bridget O'Driscoll is the first road death victim. Coroner William Morris records an accidental death but says, "This should never happen again." • Specialist collision investigation training introduced in the late 1960's. • December 1982 and the first Collision Investigation Units are formed. • 1995 – supervision of enquiries moves to the CIU. • 2004 – local CIU's brought under central management with 'statement takers' assisting the specialist CI's. • 2007 and 'statement takers' required to complete the detective training programme and qualified detectives being recruited.
Road death investigation today • The perception has changed, no longer 'just an accident' now recognised as critical investigations that require top quality, well resourced investigations. • 4 offices each run by a Detective Inspector with: - 5 Detective Sergeants. - 12 Detective Constables. - 8 Collision Investigators. - 1 Senior Collision Investigator.
Roles and responsibilities within each enquiry • At the scene: • Traffic Sergeant attends to take over management of the scene, includes the notification to next of kin. • Collisions Investigator gathers physical evidence and surveys the scene to help show what happened.
Roles and responsibilities within each enquiry • Detectives also attend to begin their investigation. Golden hour principles apply. Witnesses identified, CCTV collected and suspect enquiries started if a vehicle has FTS. • Crime scene manager to secure forensic evidence and help set strategy. • Competing demands to conduct a thorough investigation but also to open the roads.
Ongoing investigation • Flexible teams structure allows resources to be applied on a needs basis. • A crime team made up of highly experienced detectives will provide additional support where it's needed. • Centrally located intelligence team including an analyst and researchers immediately available. • FLO trained officers on each team. • Enhanced media support.
Recent and planned changes • Raise the profile of fatal collision investigation and bring in highly experienced detectives. • Recruited tier 5 interview co-ordinator. • Improved the call out procedure to get the CI and detectives to the scene more quickly. • Review the management of investigations to ensure clear investigative strategies are being set and that specialists are communicating. • Reviewed and promoted a new SOP with Boroughs to ensure the most serious cases, not dealt with by RDIU, receive an effective investigation. • RDIU provides BOCU liaison officer to provide specialist advice and support. • Matrix implemented to ensure a consistency in the non fatal investigations taken by the RDIU. As the number of fatal collisions fall we will be able to take an ever greater number of the very serious injury collision investigations.
Are the changes working? • Leesons Hill, Bromley. • Williams Thwaites is knocked of his bike and killed. • Two cars trying to ram each other off the road. • All five convicted of Manslaughter.
Ahead • PIP process ending. • Challenges from budgetary cuts.
Conclusion • If someone dies in avoidable circumstances we need to know why it happened. If there is blame we need to ensure that person answers for their actions. In every case we need to learn lessons and do everything we can to prevent the same tragic waste occurring again. • The investigation of fatal and serious PI collisions is a priority for the Metropolitan Police and we will continue to do all we can to improve the service we provide.
William Gladstone • Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical exactness, the tender mercy of its people, their respect for the law of the land and their loyalty to high ideals.
