Don't charge them - Commish tells cops not to prosecute civilian drivers in accidents with police vehicles

COMMISSIONER OF Police Owen Ellington has ordered men and women under his command to immediately cease laying charges against civilians who are involved in motor vehicle accidents with police vehicles.

In the weekly Force Orders issued yesterday, Ellington said it has come to notice that since the modification of the procedures regarding the investigation of accidents involving force vehicles, there has been an increase in the number of persons involved in accidents with police vehicles being charged and or ticketed for breaches of the Road Traffic Act immediately after the accident.

"From all appearances, this practice represents an effort by police officers to place blame for the accident on the other party to the accident," Ellington said.

He ordered that "this practice must cease forthwith.

"On no occasion must the other party in an accident involving a police vehicle be charged before the ruling of the Clerk of Courts is obtained."