Are the police above the law?

[up4it]

A friend did an online report to the police about a police car going the wrong way up a street and there response was basically we dont know who was driving so cant do anything (see mails below) ... are we just supposed to accept that the police are above the law or what should be done about it?

Original report from my friend:-
At 13:40 today I witnessed a police car turning into Spring Road, Bournemouth from Windham Road. This is clearly marked no-entry. The car had neither it's blue lights nor siren activated. Was the officer entitled to take this action? The vehicle was HF04JBZ

The police response:-
I have looked at the vehicle log for 7th July 2009. At 1340 hours there is no one shown on the log as driving the vehicle. I cannot therefore ID the driver because of this.

That leaves the possibilities that

1. The driver is mistaken with the vehicle ID - unlikley as it matches a police vehicle.

2. An officer used the vehicle but failed to complete the log.

I cannot therefore answer the query. What I will do is remind Boscombe officers of the requirement to complete vehicle logs accurately.

[up4it]

SpaceCase - I was under the impression yes but only in response to an emergency call and they should have their lights or siren on, especially driving the wrong way down a one way street

Zacs - errrrm No lol

[mrs_overall]

The info you have been given is rubbish. They know full well who is driving each car at any given time of day. The drivers have to "sign out" a car AND complete a log book.

[Androcles]

Don't leave it alone - ask for the name of the Area Commander and write or email him/her directly and ask for the matter to be properly investigated. If that doesn't work, contact the local press.

[Akakpo]

I agree with Mrs_overall. Officers complete a log book before they car keys are given to them. Are they saying that if they had knocked down someone going the wrong way, they will simply argue that they did have a log of who was driving the car?