Dashboard camera report form - FAQs

I’ve filled in the online form, what happens now?

The details you have provided go to a police officer who will evaluate your submission. You will receive emails with further instructions.

Shall I drop off my memory card/USB stick containing the footage, or will you pick it up?

Neither of these. We need to view the footage. You will be able to upload it to a place where we can view it and this will help us decide. We will send you a link so that you can upload your footage. (This will work on mobile devices as well as laptops/PCs etc)

Once I’ve uploaded the footage can I overwrite it and use the memory card as you’ve seen it then?

Yes, however you MUST preserve the original files for that journey on your computer. Do not edit it or alter it in any way. Just keep it. This is the original footage and it may be needed in the future. This is your evidence and your responsibility. We may have a need to see your complete journey or more footage either side of the matters you are reporting.

Will I have to give you a statement?

Yes - this is essential. We have worked hard with other agencies to ensure we make this as easy as possible for you to complete. You will be sent a pro-forma statement, a guide to complete it and a sample statement so you can see what one looks like once complete. This is the evidence that we will use to support your video/photographic footage.

I’ve put my footage on social media, it’s getting lots of comments, can I ask you to take a look please?

Please remove the footage from social media. Crown Prosecution Service advice is that your footage should not be in the public domain as this may adversely affect any subsequent proceedings. Please fill in the online form start the process with us.

Can't I just send you some screen shots from a video I have? They clearly show the offence I want to bring to your attention.

No - we must see the video footage of the whole incident. We may also need to see more of your journey so that we can understand the context of what happened.

Do I need to have a date/time stamp on my video footage? If so, must this be exactly the right time?

The video footage MUST be date and time stamped and IDEALLY the date and time correct, If this is not the case, then it must be evidenced in the witness statement as to the reasons why and how it differs from GMT.

I want you to see the footage but don’t want to go to court. Can’t you just deal with it?

We need your statement; we need to fully understand the situation and people have a right to have matters heard in a court of law. Please fill in the web form. We will be in touch and support you through the process.

So once you have my footage and statement what happens?

We examine your evidence and we then process any offences that are disclosed. A dedicated decision maker will instigate proceedings. We will need to serve notice upon the registered keeper of any vehicles and investigate who was driving.

My footage clearly shows someone committing a road traffic offence. What action will you take?

We will find out who was driving (the owner of the vehicle must tell us who was driving, if they don’t they may be committing a criminal offence). We will notify them of the pending prosecution. Once they are engaged in the process we will decide on the outcome. This decision is made in exactly the same way as if the offence was witnessed by police and in line with current national guidelines. Realistically, once proceedings are underway there can be one of several outcomes:

An educational input (an offer to attend a recognised national course at their expense). Please note there are strict rules that we operate to regarding the circumstances of an educational input. Only those eligible will be offered this as an alternative to prosecution.
An offer of a fixed penalty notice – i.e. points and a fine.
The option to appear in court.

Please note that the most serious offences do not carry options of education or fixed penalty, e.g. Dangerous Driving.

We will inform you of the progress and outcome of your case.

What about the cyclists breaking the law?

We will deal with all matters of careless/riding/cycling as best we can. It’s vital to remember that the vulnerable road users – those on foot, on cycles, (push and motor) and people riding horses – are at much greater risk of serious injury and death than those in cars. Our priority should always be to protect those most vulnerable.