Police issue new guidelines for accident reports

The Police High Command has ordered that new procedures be implemented governing requests from motorists seeking accident reports.

According to the High Command, motorists continue to experience inordinate delays in obtaining Abstract Reports on motor vehicle accidents from the Police. The new procedures will be applied in order to reduce delays in obtaining the police reports.

The details were announced in the latest Jamaica Constabulary Force Orders on Friday. Effective April 1,  there will be a maximum two weeks turn-around time for Abstract Reports.
This means,  two weeks from the date of application for the Report to the date  for delivery of the report to the applicant. Where there is valid reason for delay in preparing a report within the prescribed period, the officer in charge of the respective police division will communicate this to the applicant.
  
Regarding crashes involving fatalities, the High Command has specified that the related investigations are to be completed at the same standard established for Homicide investigations. The accident must be investigated by a JCF member, not below the rank of Sergeant and the scene must be processed by personnel from the Scenes of Crime Unit and Accident Investigation and Reconstruction Unit .
     
After the investigation case file is completed, the investigating station  must retain a copy. An Abstract Report is to be prepared and sent along with the case file to the Divisional Case Registry for vetting, and onward transmission to Clerk of Court, if required.
 
In addition,  a copy of the accident file is to be kept in the Registry for Civil Procedures.  
Persons involved in accidents, may give their statements to any police officer at any police station.
 
Where citizens elect to write their own statement they should be allowed to do so, using the Prescribed Statement Form for motor vehicle accident investigations.  
     
The High Command also warned that no member of the public wishing to make a report of an accident, or give a statement, should be turned away from any police station. Citizens turned away by the police may contact the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge Operations Branch via email or the Inspectorate of Constabulary via email, or at telephone number 876-906-0837.