Garages urged to sign up to alert system

A new scheme has been launched by Devon and Cornwall Police to stop rogue drivers evading the law after hit-and-run collisions.

The Force has set up Garage Watch, a messaging system to alert local garages to any vehicle police suspect of being involved in a collision.

The scheme aims to stop drivers avoiding justice by getting car repairs done swiftly at garages while lying about the cause of the damage.

It also enables police to warn garages about crime trends such as thefts of vehicles and motor equipment plus burglaries affecting similar businesses in the local area.

PC Abi Bedson, from the Force Serious Collisions Investigation Unit in Plymouth, devised the scheme after hearing of a fatal collision in Dorset where a teenage girl was killed.

The offending driver callously drove away after his Volvo was in collision with 16-year-old Jade Clark’s moped on the A31 in 2013.

The garage questioned the damage but the 58-year-old driver claimed he had hit an animal and they undertook the repairs. Police eventually traced the vehicle from paint samples and the driver was jailed for six years.

PC Bedson said: “This driver tried to conceal what he had done and the garage, although suspicious, was none the wiser as to the real cause of the damage so carried out the repairs.

“With this scheme we have, for the first time, a way of alerting all garages, body repair shops and breaker yards to any suspicious or wanted vehicle.

“The aim is to prevent drivers from getting away with an offence on the quiet, while allowing us to seize vital evidence to support prosecutions to bring cowardly drivers to justice.”

Local neighbourhood officers are visiting garages across the two counties to talk to them about Garage Watch and more than 500 have registered within the first few weeks.

“We are asking all repair garages, workshops and body shops in Devon and Cornwall to sign up to the scheme, particularly those smaller businesses which may attract drivers who think they are safer places to hide,” added PC Bedson.

“Information from the public is our best weapon in the fight against crime and garages can be our vital eyes and ears in the community for this type of offence. The scheme will also benefit the garages as they can be alerted to crime trends which could affect their business.

“We have had an extremely positive response so far with good feedback from the garages who think it is an excellent idea.”

The service is free and is run through the Force’s Community Messaging system which enables police to keep the public informed about crimes and incidents affecting their local area.

Alerts are received via a recorded phone message, fax or email and businesses can opt for Garage Watch messages only.

Garages can register for the scheme online by visiting www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/our-services/community-messaging