§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many road accidents involved police investigations which led to criminal proceedings in each of the last five years. [42183]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 11 March 2002]: The police investigate every accident which they attend, and they attend in the vast majority of cases where there is some level of injury. There were 233,729 such accidents in 2000. The police also attend and investigate many accidents involving damage to vehicles or property where there is no injury to people. Information about these is not recorded centrally.
Records of proceedings for road traffic offences do not describe the circumstances in which the offences were committed. It is therefore not possible to identify separately those proceedings which resulted from the investigation of an accident.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department has given to police authorities in the last two years in relation to the nature of investigations into road accidents resulting in serious injury or death. [40785]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Association of Chief Police Officers issued a manual of guidance to all forces in November 2001 recommending best practice in the investigation of fatal crashes, so as to promote a consistent approach across forces. The manual reflects the need to investigate road deaths so as to serve the needs of justice and to provide support for victims fairly, impartially and without prejudice. So far, trainers from about two thirds of police forces have taken part in training related to the guidance manual.