Safe Speed Forums

£120 TO RECOVER NORMAN'S BIKE
ROB PARSONS
09:40 - 24 August 2006

Crime-victim Norman England has had to pay £120 to recover his stolen motorbike - despite police finding the vehicle just 46 yards away. Thieves broke into Norman's commercial garage on New Hall Road, Normacot, and took the Suzuki 550 from a storage building on August 17.

After reporting the crime, the 62-year-old from Dresden was contacted hours later by officers who said the bike had been found down the road.

But Norman was dismayed to learn he would have to pay £120 to get the bike back from the recovery company in Longport which was holding the vehicle. Staffordshire Police say the bike was held by the recovery company for forensics to be taken.

But Norman said today: "I cannot understand why the police didn't just ring me up and say they had found my bike, they could have just given it to me.

"I can afford it but it is the principle. There is a lack of communication.

"They told me I could claim off my insurance but if I do that I will lose my no claims bonus which will cost me a lot more than £120."

Norman - who has run New Hall Road Garage for 30 years - will have to pay hundreds of pounds to cover the damage to the 400cc motorbike, which belongs to his son Nigel.

The bike's steering lock and ignition was damaged, while his garage also needs repairing after thieves forced the front gates to get inside.

He said: "The ironic thing is that there are recovery companies on the street and I have a breakdown truck myself. I paced the distance and it was 46 yards."

Businessman John Daniels, who runs a financial consultancy company near New Hall Road Garage, said: "It seems absolutely ridiculous.

"The police should have done the standard check for a missing vehicle to see if it was stolen before jumping the gun to get the recovery services."

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said impounding the bike was in line with force policy on recovered vehicles and was carried out to provide evidence for any future prosecution.

He said: "The motorbike was taken away by a specialist recovery company. It has undergone a detailed forensic examination.

"The recovery team have to take it away in order to preserve any evidence from it."

I'd refuse.

What contract have you made?

I wrote a letter of complaint to the Police. I was told it was not a valid complaint. I even tried to get a copy of the contract but was refused.

I cannot understand on what basis the contracts are negotiated. After all the Police do not have to foot the bill so what do they gain by it.