Operation Snap

[125Spotter]

Some (many?) police forces in the UK now run a variant of "Operation Snap" to encourage the public to submit dashcam and other footage of poor driving, to allow the police to follow up.

I'm interested to understand, if acceptable to ask here, whether forum members have experience submitting to this scheme, particularly if you've had outcomes of more interest than "received" or "no further action"? I don't expect to hear back on the intricacies of the police investigation following a submission, but interested if anyone has examples where they did?

I've submitted clips to it a few times. I try to be circumspect and not go around reporting every minor driving infraction (I'd be submitting all the time if so!). But where something was egregiously bad or seemed to be a deliberately poor act, or – in different circumstances – someone could feasibly have been hurt, I have submitted the footage, which hopefully does a small amount of good if follow-up is made.

 

[4COR]

I have submitted many from a helmet cam which I wore when cycling over the years (to Thames Valley). Examples vary in outcome, but I've noted that the responses have become far more useful over time - originally "a letter of advice" was often written, but I think they have clocked on that this does nothing, and hitting the driver in the wallet is the only way. A driver improvement course is paid for by the driver.

Similarly to yourself, I don't report minor stuff - almost being hit (when on a bike, 2 tonnes of metal tends to almost always win...), or being close passed when I can pretty much reach and touch the car side as it passes me (!).

Some examples:

Close/unsafe/punishment passes (I had about three in a month while cycling my son to primary school): each one of the last 6 or so have resulted in a driver improvement course.

Got almost taken out by a car on a roundabout not giving way to me while I was crossing it - another driver course.

One close pass in Oxford where the driver was offered a course. They failed to attend so were taken to court for driving without due care. Didn't attend court hearing, and was eventually banned for 6 months through totting up as they already had 9 points (what an idiot!)

 

[Bikeman78]

It's gone the other way in south Wales. Going back two years, a fairly detailed response was given. More recently, the update simply said positive action taken. The last two had the message below. For context, one of them involved a minibus passing about a foot away from me on a near deserted road, despite there being two other lanes to choose from. It appears that South Wales Police are overwhelmed, and offences against cyclists are low down the priority list.

Thank you for taking the time to submit your footage that we have reviewed carefully. Unfortunately, on this occasion, we are unable to take any further action. Operation SNAP has become so successful that the team is no longer able to manage the demand submitted by the public. We are in the process of reviewing the operation to ensure that it remains efficient and effective. Therefore, until further notice, we will not be able to take any further action in cases that would previously have been dealt with by an advisory notice (warning letter), such as this case. This means the operation can continue, and that the teams can deal with the most serious cases submitted. Regrettably, we’re unable to discuss this outcome further. We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

A lot of people who submit videos to police also don't appreciate that there is quite a high likelihood of being asked to attend court as a witness, and the issues getting time off and travelling to a magistrates court sometimes a considerable distance away.

The police refuse (generally) to share the video or statement with the alleged offender unless and until they elect for a court hearing, and a significant number of them prefer to take their chances, that the witness won't actually bother to turn up and the case collapses. All the driver is told is an allegation of careless/inconsiderate dangerous driving at (location) on (date) and (time) and to provide the name of the driver, and then to either admit guilt and select from a course or points or dispute and go to court. There's no "show me the evidence" and then I'll decide option.

The other issue is because they don't recall being spotted by the police or a camera van etc, the driver is unlikely to attribute their behaviour to a particularly memorable event, meaning they're more likely to genuinely believe that they have done nothing wrong and therefore defend the matter, in the absence of the police providing any evidence.

 

[Bikeman78]

A lot of people who submit videos to police also don't appreciate that there is quite a high likelihood of being asked to attend court as a witness, and the issues getting time off and travelling to a magistrates court sometimes a considerable distance away.

The police refuse (generally) to share the video or statement with the alleged offender unless and until they elect for a court hearing, and a significant number of them prefer to take their chances, that the witness won't actually bother to turn up and the case collapses. All the driver is told is an allegation of careless/inconsiderate dangerous driving at (location) on (date) and (time) and to provide the name of the driver, and then to either admit guilt and select from a course or points or dispute and go to court. There's no "show me the evidence" and then I'll decide option.

The other issue is because they don't recall being spotted by the police or a camera van etc, the driver is unlikely to attribute their behaviour to a particularly memorable event, meaning they're more likely to genuinely believe that they have done nothing wrong and therefore defend the matter, in the absence of the police providing any evidence.

I have only had to attend court once in five years. I didn't get past the waiting area (where I had to wait for about an hour) because the driver was shown the footage and immediately admitted his guilt. Prior to that, he had only seen still images. It seemed to me that a lot of time and effort had been wasted. Had the driver been shown the footage in the first place, then presumably it would never have got to court. It's no wonder the system is getting overwhelmed.

 

[Trackman]

Cyclingmikey on tube is worth a watch. He's been doing it for years in London, in Hyde Park mainly and the junction at the end as some drivers disregard for the rules at that junction.
He's caught a couple of celebs too, Guy Ritchie and Chris Eubank - that were prosecuted.
He lets you know the outcome at the end of the video, usually. Seems to be respected by the Police.

 

[Cloud Strife]

A lot of people who submit videos to police also don't appreciate that there is quite a high likelihood of being asked to attend court as a witness, and the issues getting time off and travelling to a magistrates court sometimes a considerable distance away.

This is where the law should have been reformed. There's no reason why someone can't give video evidence remotely at the level of the magistrates court (or the equivalents elsewhere in the UK). We already have secure systems used for video calling in prisons, so we can easily use the same for court appearances. If there's sufficient doubt to warrant it, it shouldn't be rocket science to get someone to give their evidence in front of a local magistrate, transmitted via video link.

 

[Egg Centric]

Cyclingmikey on tube is worth a watch. He's been doing it for years in London, in Hyde Park mainly and the junction at the end as some drivers disregard for the rules at that junction.
He's caught a couple of celebs too, Guy Ritchie and Chris Eubank - that were prosecuted.
He lets you know the outcome at the end of the video, usually. Seems to be respected by the Police.

He *was* worth a watch and his original videos still are, but I have to disagree now - so much of it is completely routine drivers sitting in stationary traffic fiddling with a phone, which while an offence and a theoretical problem (what if they need to react to emergency services?) is orders of magnitude difference safety wise. He's diluted a genuine road safety message of egregious offences with stuff that's pretty meh and imo counter productive as you're never going to get normals on side highlighting that stuff.

Incidentally some completely unrelated videos of him are good too - I can't immediately find it but there's one of him with one of his patients with the kings guard and how compassionately they were treated.

 

[341o2]

The Police request that if you submit evidence to Operation Snap, it should not be posted on social media while the incident is being investigated, and if a NIP has been issued, not until the courts have issued a verdict.

 

[styles]

He *was* worth a watch and his original videos still are, but I have to disagree now - so much of it is completely routine drivers sitting in stationary traffic fiddling with a phone, which while an offence and a theoretical problem (what if they need to react to emergency services?) is orders of magnitude difference safety wise. He's diluted a genuine road safety message of egregious offences with stuff that's pretty meh and imo counter productive as you're never going to get normals on side highlighting that stuff.

Incidentally some completely unrelated videos of him are good too - I can't immediately find it but there's one of him with one of his patients with the kings guard and how compassionately they were treated.

Have to remember really that Mikey's dad was killed by a drunk driver. I believe he's as much, if not more, motivated by this injustice than the social media clout; and I do genuinely believe him when he says he simply wants to get the message out to people that there are cyclists and drivers with headcams/dashcams and if you break the law while driving, there's a good chance you'll get caught. After all, chance of getting caught is shown to be a greater factor than potential sentence in offending rates. Too many phone-holding drivers simply think they won't get caught. Hopefully these new 'AI' cameras which can detect phone use will change this.

I personally can't imagine spending my free time standing at Gandalf's Corner waiting for people to disobey a keep left sign, but I also don't really mind Mikey doing it.

The videos are mostly boring. Was funny seeing Chris Eubank use a phone while driving, without a seatbelt, pretend to be a police officer, then run a red light while distracted on the phone though.