19 January 2009 
 
 
 
Your Ref: 
 
 
 
 
Our Ref: 
0981/2008 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dr Geraint Bevan 
 
 
Force Disclosure Unit 
E mail:- request-4818-
Police Headquarters 
[email address]
173 Pitt Street 
 
GLASGOW 
G2 4JS 
 
Tel: 0141 435 1204 
 
Fax: 0141 435 1218 
 
Dear Dr Bevan 
 
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NUMBER 0981/2008 
 
I refer to your request for information dated 17 December 2008, which was received by 
Strathclyde Police on that date. Your request has now been considered and on 19 January 
2009, a decision was made to grant your request in full.  As such, the information you have 
requested is detailed below. 
 
I should be obliged if you would tell me what means police officers  have of determining the 
insurer of a motor vehicle? 
 
The power granted to a constable to require the production of a certificate of insurance is 
outlined in Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. 
 
This legislation can be viewed on the website of the Office of Public Sector Information at the 
following web address: 
 
 http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/ukpga_19880052_en_14#pt7-pb1-l1g165
 
Where a police officer requires to ascertain insurance details he/she would require production 
of the insurance certificate from the driver/owner of the relevant vehicle under the above 
legislation.  If the driver/owner did not have this document in his/her possession at the time of 
the requirement then he/ she must produce it at a police office within seven days of the 
requirement being made.  
 
Details of insurers are also on the Motor Insurers database on the Police National Computer.  
 
Please also tell me what procedures, if any, are in place for Strathclyde police officers to 
notify a vehicle's insurer of damage to that vehicle on the owner's behalf; and under what 
circumstances this would happen? 
 
I have interpreted your question as meaning damage caused to a motor vehicle as a result of 
the vehicle being involved in a road crash. Strathclyde Police do not notify insurance 
companies of damage to motor vehicles on behalf of the owner of a vehicle; rather, this is the 

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responsibility of the owner. When a road crash is reported to the police an investigation is 
carried out and a road crash report recorded.  An extract of this report is available on request 
and payment of a fee to insurance companies acting for persons involved in a crash. This 
extract contains very brief details as to the extent or location of visible damage to any vehicle.  
It could by no means be considered as a comprehensive assessment of damage incurred. 
 
I hope this information is helpful, however, if you are not satisfied with the way in which 
your request has been dealt with, you are entitled in the first instance to request a review of 
the decision made by the Force.  Should you wish to request such a review, please write to 
Mrs Sheena Brennan, Disclosure Manager at the above address within 40 working days of 
receiving this letter.   
 
Once informed of the Review Panel’s decision, if you are still not satisfied, then you are 
entitled to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision.  Contact details are; 
Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St 
Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, telephone 01334 464610.   
 
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in Strathclyde Police. 
Should you require any further assistance concerning this matter please contact me directly on 
0141 435 1204 quoting the reference number given. 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
 
 
John Cameron 
Sergeant 
 
 

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