Unsafe driving involving a pedal cyclist & fixed penalties issued to cyclists
Our Ref: 20 October 2020 - NY5294
I write in connection with your request for information that was received by the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire (OPFCC) on 20th May 2020. Please accept our sincere and unreserved apologies for the delay in providing you with a response.
I note you seek access to the following information:
Firstly, could you let me know the total number of complaints received, and how many associated prosecutions that NY Police has brought against motorists (of any vehicle) for unsafe driving involving a pedal cyclist since the beginning of 2019? This would include “close passes” and other dangerous/careless/due care charges. I am particularly interested to hear how many prosecutions you have brought for incidents that didn’t involve a collision.
Secondly, the PFCC appeared on BBC TV on 18 May 2020 and stated that there had been issues with “cycling clubs organising large groups, which is against current regulations”. I would like to know how many complaints were received over the weekend of 16/17 May 2020, which alleged cycling clubs these were, how large the alleged groups were and where these incidents took place.
Finally, I would also like to know how many fixed penalties under the Health Protection Regulations 202 have been issued to cyclists since the 26 March.
Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information
To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within the OPFCC.
I wish to advise you that there is no information held by the OPFCC in order to answer your request.
This is because this information in relation to points 1 and 2 is held by North Yorkshire Police with whom I have liaised to determine which departments specifically and can confirm are both the Traffic Bureau (point 1) and Force Control Room (point 1 and point 2).
In relation to point 3, I have been informed that fixed penalties under the Health Protection Regulations 202 are handled by City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council and not North Yorkshire Police nor the OPFCC.
Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. It should be noted therefore that the OPFCC’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.