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#Post#: 119008--------------------------------------------------
Untruthful police report
DIR By: onlyme
Date: May 17, 2026, 7:15 pm
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Hi there, just wanting a bit of advice how to proceed with a
situation I have found myself in.
I passed a police officer on a roundabout by changing to the
center lane and then returning to the outside lane to exit by
the second exit, straight on. They were in a queue of traffic on
the roundabout turning left which was only just starting to
move. The roundabout has two lanes but only one lane for the
exit. I believed they were turning left due to their positioning
but they left via the same exit as me and pulled me over.
The officer alleged that I cut them up and did me for
inconsiderate driving. I asked to see their dash camera as I was
certain that I hadn't done so but was told there is no camera
and that it would be my word against two police officers.
I luckily managed to obtained footage of the alleged offence
from a shop's CCTV which shows that I started to change back
into the outside lane a couple car lengths ahead of them when
they were travelling at about walking pace - it is clear from
the footage that no-one had to alter speed or direction because
of me.
Upon recieving a course offer I asked for them to clarify the
alligations and then challenged the inaccurate statement of the
officer evidencing this with the footage. They have not yet
replied to this but have withdrawn the course offer and issued a
FPN (offence code RT88576).
I am quite stressed at the situation, I feel I have been treated
unfairly and would be very grateful for some advice,
particularly on the following:
1. Having a court hearing would be both inconvenient (I live
about 2 hours away from the issuing authority) and intimidaing
for me. Is there any way I could contest this without having one
and if I do have one can I be reimbursed for costs?
2. I can't really afford legal representation but also probably
don't qualify for free help. I feel the evidence for my case is
strong so would representing myself likely be appropriate in
this case?
3. The offence I have been accused of is for inconsiderate
driving ("without reasonable consideration..."), is it true that
to be found guilty they would need to prove that I caused
someone to be inconveninced; would this mean that I would have
had to cause someone to brake / change direction? (this is
probably the most obvious thing to argue)
Best wishes,
S
#Post#: 119009--------------------------------------------------
Re: Untruthful police report
DIR By: andy_foster
Date: May 17, 2026, 7:44 pm
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--- Quote from: onlyme link ---
>
> ...and issued a FPN (offence code RT88576).
--- End Quote ---
I'm going to go ahead and call bullsh*t on that.
--- Quote ---
> 1. Having a court hearing would be both inconvenient (I live
about 2 hours away from the issuing authority) and intimidaing
for me. Is there any way I could contest this without having one
and if I do have one can I be reimbursed for costs?
--- End Quote ---
You have already tried to contest this informally. If, as you
claim, you have been issued with an FPN, you have 21 days to
either pay the fixed penalty or request a court hearing.
However, as indicated above, you haven't.
If the police instigate court proceedings, you can either plead
guilty or not guilty. Assuming that the police's evidence is
sufficient to convict if not challenged, pleading not guilty
would be somewhat futile unless you are going to present a
defence in court.
If you win, you can claim your necessarily incurred costs.
--- Quote ---
>
> 2. I can't really afford legal representation but also
probably don't qualify for free help. I feel the evidence for my
case is strong so would representing myself likely be
appropriate in this case?
--- End Quote ---
If you can't afford a lawyer, representing yourself would seem
to be the only option.
--- Quote ---
> 3. The offence I have been accused of is for inconsiderate
driving ("without reasonable consideration..."), is it true that
to be found guilty they would need to prove that I caused
someone to be inconveninced; would this mean that I would have
had to cause someone to brake / change direction? (this is
probably the most obvious thing to argue)
--- End Quote ---
Pretty much
Best wishes,
S
[/quote]
#Post#: 119018--------------------------------------------------
Re: Untruthful police report
DIR By: onlyme
Date: May 18, 2026, 3:36 am
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Thank you for this Andy,
I'm going got mull it over a bit but will likely request the
court hearing to sort this out.
What in particular are you are calling bullsh*t on? I am
interested to know what you find suprising about this. I do
rekon the FPN has been issued because the offer for the course
has expired, but the police department has been extremely
unhelpful in communicating with me and seem unwilling to review
the case with the evidence I provided - I have given them many
weeks so plenty of time to do so.
Thank you again and best wishes,
S
#Post#: 119032--------------------------------------------------
Re: Untruthful police report
DIR By: NewJudge
Date: May 18, 2026, 5:21 am
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One of the reasons why Andy may be a little sceptical is because
the offence does not attract a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). If
the police think a fixed penalty is appropriate they will make a
“Conditional Offer of a Fixed Penalty" (COFP). This is not
semantics. Both exist but the two are completely different
animals.
If you have not received a COFP yet I think it is more likely
that the police will move straight to court proceedings,
especially as you mention it is now “many weeks” since the date
of the offence. You have also declined to take up the offer of a
course and have given them indications that you refute the
allegation.
--- Quote ---
> …the police department has been extremely unhelpful in
communicating with me and seem unwilling to review the case with
the evidence I provided…
>
--- End Quote ---
The police do not usually review evidence when they have made
either a course or fixed penalty offer. They have already made
the decision that they will take enforcement action. The idea of
both of those is that the driver accepts the allegation as it
stands and opts to take up the offer – which is considerably
less expensive than any penalty a court may impose. So it’s
unsurprising that they have failed to engage with you. The
police leave any evidence of a defence to be tested in court.
--- Quote ---
> ….but will likely request the court hearing to sort this out.
--- End Quote ---
The court hearing (or perhaps two) will indeed “sort this out”.
But it will take the form of a trial, The police will present
their evidence (which you will be provided with before you enter
your plea) and you can present yours. The police evidence will
probably consist of statements from the officers. If you
disagree with their contents, you must ask for the officers to
attend court and you will be able to cross-examine them. The
court will then reach a verdict.
Before the trial you will be asked to state the reason why you
are pleading not guilty and there may be an opportunity then to
get he prosecutor to view your evidence, review the decision to
prosecute and perhaps discontinue.
But if that does not happen you should be under no illusion – if
this goes to court, unless you plead guilty, the only way it
will be resolved is by way of a criminal trial. You should also
be aware of the likely outcome should you be convicted. You will
face a fine of at least half a week’s net income and a surcharge
of 40% of that fine. You will also be ordered to pay prosecution
costs of around £650. So, no change out of £1,000 for most
people and possibly more, depending on your income. You will
also see an endorsement and at least three points imposed on
your driving record.
What was the date of the alleged offence?
#Post#: 119039--------------------------------------------------
Re: Untruthful police report
DIR By: Southpaw82
Date: May 18, 2026, 6:29 am
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I’m still unclear as to what part of the police evidence is
“untruthful” (i.e. a deliberate lie) and how the OP knows this.
#Post#: 119091--------------------------------------------------
Re: Untruthful police report
DIR By: onlyme
Date: May 18, 2026, 12:33 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Southpaw82 link ---
>
> I’m still unclear as to what part of the police evidence is
“untruthful” (i.e. a deliberate lie) and how the OP knows this.
>
--- End Quote ---
The officers said I 'cut them up' which is open to some
interpretation, but combined with the offence code, suggests to
me that they mean that I caused them to brake or otherwise take
evasive action which the video evidence I later obtained clearly
shows did not happen.
I suppose you are right. Both officers may have not remembered
the situation correctly and been genuine, but we would hope that
they would be more certain before bringing allegations.
#Post#: 119096--------------------------------------------------
Re: Untruthful police report
DIR By: NewJudge
Date: May 18, 2026, 1:02 pm
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--- Quote ---
> ...but we would hope that they would be more certain before
bringing allegations
--- End Quote ---
.
But they might indeed be "more certain" than you think.
What SP is raising is that if you approach your defence on the
basis that the officers are "untruthful" (i.e. telling lies) you
may encounter some difficulty. Instead you should suggest they
are mistaken.
This is a very subjective allegation and the prosecution must
prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that inconvenience was caused:
"A person is to be regarded as driving without reasonable
consideration for other persons only if those persons are
inconvenienced by his driving."
At this stage you do not know what the officers are alleging
regarding the inconvenience they say they suffered. Before you
make your decision, I would wait until you see their statements.
Once again, what was the date of the offence. It may help
determine whether or not the police are likely to offer you a
fixed penalty.
#Post#: 119097--------------------------------------------------
Re: Untruthful police report
DIR By: andy_foster
Date: May 18, 2026, 1:04 pm
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As the OP has apparently been issued a Fixed Penalty Notice, the
question as to whether or not they are likely to offer a fixed
penalty would appear to be somewhat moot.
#Post#: 119098--------------------------------------------------
Re: Untruthful police report
DIR By: onlyme
Date: May 18, 2026, 1:09 pm
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Thank you for the information NewJudge, that is really helpful
and quite intimidating, but I am grateful for your insights.
Yes, I think you are right about Andy's scheptism: I did confuse
the FPN and COFP letters - it is the COFP which I have recieved
and I have until early June to respond. The date of alleged
offence was back in January.
It feels very stupid that there is no way of having them review
allegations with new evidence prior to legal action. It would
avoid soo much unneccessary cost and stress.
Thank you for your advice regarding the 'untruthful' part of it.
I do understand there is weighting behind this and will be wary
going forwards.
#Post#: 119135--------------------------------------------------
Re: Untruthful police report
DIR By: BertB
Date: May 19, 2026, 3:37 am
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When in January? And what date is 'early June'.
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