Whitehall 1212
Former Member
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but how hard is it to run a number plate? Could have taken 2 minutes and saved a life.
Yes, they may have run a PNC check and obtained a registered keepers name and address.
They may or may not be current details, although it is an offence not to notify DVLA of a change of registered keeper (RK). The vehicle may have been registered in EC's name even though WC may have been the owner (RK and owner are different legally). The owner/RK may have been another individual/company but WC had permission and insurance to drive the vehicle.
So identifying a possible suspect just from keeper details may not be so straightforward.
A witness statement from the victim would be required, CCTV evidence secured, potential forensic evidence secured and also further intelligence checks and possibly look to identify other offences involving same vehicle, similar offender MO, similar offender description, same locality before approaching the RK.
Approaching the RK gives rise to other decisions and if the RK is outside the Met Police area then that often adds additional hurdles of asking another force to conduct initial enquiries at the address.
I think it unkikely that RK background checks are carried out routinely against a database of police officers/police staff.
So it's a process that may take a while and whilst IE is a distressing crime, it is very common and therefore may not have been acted upon with the urgency we wished it had been.
Recognition of IE as a crime that left unchecked can escalate into more serious offences may now be recognised more fully and the murders of Libby Squire and Sarah Everard may be a force for change.
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