Eighteen police officers were reprimanded this week for bragging about their own car accidents in a web group called Look I've Had A Pocol.
Pocol is slang for 'police collision', a car accident involving a police car. The officers involved with these car crash cases have been found to have used Facebook inappropriately to set up this group, where jokes and images of the aftermath of various crashes were stored.
One member wrote, "Ran over a drunk. I believe he has a permanent limp and a hefty payout. I was given a three-month holiday from job driving. Ooh, bummer." This attitude toward the personal injury of others involved in the police car crashes, which forced them to claim for compensation over their accident injuries, seems representative of the page before it was disbanded.
The investigation into this behaviour, described by the police as entirely unacceptable, began in January. The force's spokesperson said, "Fourteen officers received written warnings and four were given a speaking to. The warnings will remain on their records. Another five had unofficial words in their ear."
Future car accidents will, it is hoped, be handled in a more appropriate manner.
*Where replacement vehicle costs can be recovered from the insurance company of the person who caused the accident.
Where this person is untraceable or uninsured, or where there is a dispute over liability, a replacement vehicle cannot
be provided.
