Traffic Criminal Justice Unit
Welcome
The Traffic Criminal Justice Unit deals with all MPS traffic prosecutions, except drink drive and those cases where crime is involved. It also processes all MPS fixed-penalty notices and penalty notices for disorder and runs safety-camera enforcement as part of the London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP).
Aim
Our overall aim is to improve driving standards and make London’s roads safer. It is by supporting our operational colleagues, giving them the confidence that traffic offences will be dealt with and ensuring that victims are dealt with appropriately, that this aim can be achieved.
History
In 2004 the Traffic Criminal Justice Unit was created. Its forerunner the Central ticket office dealt with the processing of fixed penalty and notices. It has since developed into a fully functioning traffic prosecutions and collision investigation unit.
Our current primary role is to provide a criminal justice function for all MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) traffic prosecutions and investigating collisions, carrying out the work previously done by Borough traffic process units.
We also play an important part in the citizen’s pledge and if someone reports a road traffic collision to us and we investigate our Traffic Criminal Justice unit will contact you within 10 working days to give you contact details of the person dealing with your case.
What we do
- Traffic criminal justice:
We provide a CJU (Criminal Justice Unit) function, which is the investigation of traffic collisions, helping victims of Road Collisions and supporting any witnesses for all MPS traffic prosecutions. When the evidence is collected and reviewed we then arrange for the summons to be issued where appropriate.
The Regional Criminal Justice Units and Serious Casework Unit are responsible for over 100,000 traffic prosecutions each year and the investigation of fatal and serious personal injury collisions. The Serious Casework Unit also investigates police collisions.
- Parking and driver liability fixed penalty notices:
We process all MPS fixed penalty notices for a broad range of traffic offences, such as obstruction, vehicle defects, speeding, no insurance and using a mobile phone whilst driving.
- Penalty Notices for Disorder:
We process all MPS penalty notices for disorder; these cover offences such as ‘drunk and disorderly’, minor criminal damage and more serious offences such as ‘causing harassment, alarm or distress’.
- Safety Camera enforcement:
We run safety camera enforcement for the MPS, working together with the LCSP – a high profile area of work covering speeding and red light offences.
The unit is responsible for all stages of the operation from camera deployment through to prosecution. About 360,00 offences are processed each year with most of those being dealt with by fixed penalties, although recently the LCSP has offered Safety Awareness Courses as an alternative to more minor offenders.
- Gateway Courts
Gateway courts have been set up and we have established a close relationship with the Her Majesty Court Service and Crown Prosecution Service. This forms the basis of the London Traffic Prosecution scheme.
Gateway 1 Courts -deal with all process and collision work for London.
Gateway 2 Courts - deal with all camera and Fixed Penalty prosecution work for London.
Dedicated police staff Court Presentation officers work with the CPS and present the cases.
How to apply for a Metropolitan Police Collision Report
The form 518 is to request a police report/third party details. The form 518A is to request a police reference number. The form 518B is to request an officer interview in traffic cases only. The Civil Action Report Team (CART) will be able to process all requests promptly and more efficiently.
If you do not have internet access a Form 518 can be emailed or sent via the post. A request for this will need to be made in writing to:
Civil Action Report Team
Traffic Criminal Justice OCU
P O Box 510
DA15 0BQ.
email: CivilActionRS@met.police.uk