ORIGINAL: 944s2
Why not be brave and drop Chief Constable a letter?
It does not appear to be an isolated incident and as to puuting you and your wife in danger wonder what his reply would be?
Good idea:
Complaints and Professional Standards Department,
Police Headquarters,
Newby Wiske Hall,
Northallerton,
North Yorkshire,
DL7 9HA
7th April 2008
Dear Sir's,
We are writing to complain about an incident on the 3rd April 2008 on the A64 near York. We were stopped by a Police Patrol car for a tyre and light check. At approximately 10.45am we joined the A 64 from a slip road after a mid morning coffee stop. On our left was a Police Volvo estate-car parked on the slip road, we had seen this vehicle earlier in a lay-by and the occupants appeared to be conducting a inspection of a commercial vehicle.
We joined the carriage way and proceeded towards the East coast, at approximately 1/4 mile we observed the Police car pull out and at what seemed like high speed started to overtake other vehicles. and within 3 to 4 minutes pulled in behind us The only place at that time was a run off into a private property. I was extremely concerned about the actual stopping site as it was not a designated lay-by, very short in length and very close to the highway, which was carrying heavy speeding traffic at that time.
I immediately got out of my car and approached the driver of the police car who by this time was opening his door with a leather file in his hand I presume a fixed penalty ticket holder. I asked him why had he stopped us, his reply Tyre Check. Another person I presume a engineer got out of the passenger side and started to inspect the tyres on my 3 month old Porsche which during the time has covered a little less than 700 miles. A light check followed, only the rear lights which might explain the plethora of vehicles we observe on a daily basis with one headlight.
During the inspection my wife asked the police officer on four occasions, on what grounds did he feel that our car should have been stopped, when the manner of driving had given no reason to draw attention. I put it to the officer that the only reason for his interest was the car was a high performance vehicle painted in yellow. He said that was not the case but did not offer another explanation.
The crux of our complaint is a stop by a Police Officer on the grounds of vehicle type and not manner of driving or any other mitigating circumstances. The actually site of the stop which would may be have been suitable for a getaway car but not a spurious reason given by the officer, also his attitude which was confrontational and rude. His refusal to write down his name and police number on my wife's request so that our complaint could be factual.
We have great respect for the Police and as such, despite having a high performance car for some 30 years, have had no reason to have any contact with traffic police. It is very disappointing that when contact is made, it had to be in the manner as we describe.
When we now see a Traffic Police on patrol our immediate reaction is less than positive.
Yours faithfully
Graham & Maureen Munro
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