Ending to a previous thread. 160 mph speeder

[andyf]

Essentially if there is one police officer in a car then they would require video evidence to support their claim.

Bullsh*t.

If there is only one copper in the car, his word is sufficient - but it must be more than just his opinion - there must be evidence of corroboration (e.g. follow check), but he can give evidence of that in his oral testimony.

N.B. This only applies to England and Wales - in Scotland the evidence of a single witness is generally not sufficient.

 

[MikePotteRR]

Does the follow check not involve them filming the vehicle for the allotted 0.2 miles to complete the speed check?

I was simply following up an your quote below but may have misspoke when I mentioned "video evidence" where it seems you have stated that the witness evidence needs to be corroborated.

The officer's word *is* evidence. However, other than on motorways, you cannot be convicted solely on the *opinion* evidence of a single witness - it needs to be corroborated (e.g. approved device or speedo reading during a follow check). Subject to certain rules, the witness can give evidence of that corroboration.

 

[mike g]

2 officers can corroborate each other (or they could in 1977!)

 

[MikePotteRR]

Hi all, the below was published by the times on 31st October so hopefully it hasn't changed since then;
Alternatively, you can be pulled over by a police officer. To pull you over and report you, a police officer will have to have evidence of your speed. They can obtain this either by using a speed gun, or through the use of a camera car or bike. (NB: on a motorway, the officer does not need any extra evidence of speeding. The officer's opinion is enough to prosecute.)
A speed gun is a hand-held radar device that officers point at an oncoming car, to provide them with a readout of its speed. Often, one officer will use the speed gun, while another waits further down the road; the first officer then radios ahead a description of the speeding car to the second, who then pulls that car over.
Alternatively, officers who spot a speeding car while out on the road can follow the car and pull it over. While they’re following the car, an in-car camera system can give them a read-out of its speed, and records footage of the car to use as evidence. The officer then uses blue flashing lights to pull the car over, and will deal with the driver in person, usually in the back of the police car.

 

[andyf]

Some people seem to be having difficulty in distinguishing between "opinion" and "witness evidence" - although I suspect that this is due in part at least to being determined to rationalise what they are being told with what they understood to be the case.

An article that suggests that hand hold radar devices are routinely used by the police for speed enforcement is about as authoritative and accurate as the "Top Tips" section in Viz.