Scotland and Wales join Police Helpline for first time
To support the Police and to reassure the public that checks are in place to prevent accidental seizures MIB launched a dedicated Police Helpline to assist the Police with difficult roadside situations where there may be doubt over the validity of insurance cover for a suspect vehicle. The Helpline has been extended to the whole of Scotland and Wales for the first time.
Ashton West the Group CEO of MIB says,
"MIB is delighted that the whole of Wales and Scotland now have access to the Police Helpline. Uninsured driving is selfish in the extreme and MIB is committed to support the Police in their efforts to rid the roads of uninsured drivers. The Helpline is also there to reassure the public that responsible checks are in place to prevent accidental seizures."
The Helpline is designed to assist the officer when a vehicle does not appear on the Motor Insurance Database (MID).
There can be occasions where the driver claims to be insured.
The MIB Police Helpline can provide the officer with a definitive answer in the majority of cases by dedicated call handlers undertaking additional investigations beyond making a MID enquiry.
The following forces have now joined the MIB Police Helpline:
South Wales, Gwent, Dyfed-Powys, Strathclyde, Fife, Central Scotland, Tayside, Lothian & Borders, Grampian, Northern, Dumfries & Galloway, Durham and Cleveland.
The total number of forces now using the MIB Police Helpline is 41, with the remainder joining in October 2007.
Chief Constable John Vine, (Tayside), Chair of the ACPOS Road Policing Business Area, says,
"The introduction of the MIB Police Helpline will further assist the police in detecting uninsured motorists. Such a facility can only but improve the safety of our roads and make those drivers who are prepared to take a risk to think again."
Notes to editors
1. Forces using MIB Police Helpline are:
Bedfordshire
Cambridgeshire
Central Scotland
City of London
Cleveland
Cumbria
Dorset
Dumphries and Galloway
Durham
Dyfed and Powys
Essex
Fife
Gloucestershire
Grampian
Greater Manchester
Gwent
Hampshire
Hertfordshire
Humberside
Kent
Lancashire
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
Lothian and Borders
Merseyside
MET
North Wales
North Yorkshire
Northern
Northumbria
Nottingham
South Wales
South Yorkshire
Strathclyde
Surrey
Sussex
Tayside
Thames Valley
West Midlands
West Yorkshire
Wiltshire
1. Supportive materials are sent to each force as they join the Police Helpline.
2. 25.4 million enquiries were made on the MID by the Police during 2006, exceeding the target of 15.2 million by 67%
3. Members of the public are advised to contact their insurer or broker if they are in any doubt whether their vehicle is on the MID
For more information please visit www.mib.org.uk .
About the Author: The Motor Insurers' Bureau compensates the victims of road accidents caused by uninsured and untraced motorists. The Motor Insurers' Bureau handles claims under the Green Card System and is the Compensation Body under the 4th Directive
The MIB also operates the Motor Insurance Database, which contains details of all insured vehicles in the country
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