Author Topic: SJPN to be received  (Read 6494 times)

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Re: SJPN to be received
« Reply #60 on: »
Issuing a second COFP seems daft and a recipe for confusion.
That's exactly what I believe. I can only think that, since he first COFP was apparently cancelled, there was no mechanism for them the OP to pay the £100 penalty other than issuing a second offer.

I'm not at all clear what the OP has done in response to that offer. If he has paid the penalty and submitted his licence he can suggest to the court that the matter should not be heard because s76(2) of the RTOA says so. If he has not paid the penalty and/or submitted his licence the proceedings should not have been brought until 28 days after the offer was made (Section 76(4)). In either event a SJPN should not have been raised and in the case of the latter, when the 28 days had elapsed it was too late to take proceedings anyway.

The police seem to believe they can issue a COFP for administrative expediency and not be bound by the legislation which governs its issue.

Thank you for your response.  Yes, it is the latter.

Re: SJPN to be received
« Reply #61 on: »
The law likes to sort issues into pigeon holes, often with the use of a large sledgehammer to overcome the natural resistance to the particular hole.

I have been in the audience when the High Court hearing a JR against refusal to state a case reconvened itself as a Divisional Court (without flinching) to determine the substantive issue.

Either way, the prosecution is (on the face of it at least) unlawful, but the court would need to satisfy itself of the fact before deciding that it cannot continue to try the information. I have it in mind that technically it is an abuse of process - which used to require an application for stay to be lodged at least 14 days before the trial date, but no longer does, but the bottom line is that the issue needs to be communicated to the court and the other party in good time, and the court needs to determine whether it would be lawful to continue the proceedings.
T

Thank you very much - I'll respond to the SJPN by the weekend

Re: SJPN to be received
« Reply #62 on: »
@Sandy217  -  in your OP you said that:

"...I returned the letter the next day. I believe it was within 28 days (possibly sent on 27th day as I was intending to appeal / obtaining evidence re signage not sufficient).

I received the form I completed with my licence details from hmcts to say it has been returned to me as it was not within the prescribed time and will receive a summons in due course
..."

But then on 11 June you post an update:

"... Contacted the police who confirmed receipt of driving licence details

I will be receiving a new conditional offer which will allow me to return to the fixed penalty stage.
Will also make payment of £100 as previous amount was refunded
..."

Are you saying that the police contradicted what they had previously told you and that in fact they admitted that they had received your details in time re the first COFP?

If so I don't understand why they couldn't just have said pay us the £100 again that we mistakenly refunded to you.  Issuing a second COFP seems daft and a recipe for confusion.

Have you any record of this exchange with the police?  Was it by email?  Did you record a converstaion?

Yes, the police contradicted what they said.

There is an internal email to the prosecutions manager heading 'complaint case - urgent' which was forwarded to me, in error. The contents of the email discuss me paying £100.00 payment.
No, not by email. I wanted to record the conversation, but thought it was wise not to do so, without their knowledge...

I don't think you've mentioned that before?  Does that internal email show that they actually did receive your details in time and that they cocked it all up?

Do they know you have it?  They might want to drop the prosecution out of embarrassment...   :)

I'm not regulated by the SRA but I thought it was perfectly legal to record any conversation that you were a party to.  And that you didn't need to inform the other party. 

What is illegal is recording (or "bugging") a conversation you aren't a party to...
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Re: SJPN to be received
« Reply #63 on: »
I'm not regulated by the SRA but I thought it was perfectly legal to record any conversation that you were a party to.  And that you didn't need to inform the other party. 

What is illegal is recording (or "bugging") a conversation you aren't a party to...

What is illegal is intercepting a communication (e.g. phone tapping). Recording a conversation otherwise isn’t a crime (but could amount to e.g. a breach of confidence depending on the circumstances).
I am not qualified to give legal advice in the UK. While I will do my best to help you, you should not rely on my advice as if it was given by a lawyer qualified in the UK.

Re: SJPN to be received
« Reply #64 on: »
I see, my understanding was recording conversations, was permitted for personal use only. I guess I could have obtained permission from the court to release the recordings, I should have recorded the conversations in hindsight.

Thanks.

Re: SJPN to be received
« Reply #65 on: »
@Sandy217  -  in your OP you said that:

"...I returned the letter the next day. I believe it was within 28 days (possibly sent on 27th day as I was intending to appeal / obtaining evidence re signage not sufficient).

I received the form I completed with my licence details from hmcts to say it has been returned to me as it was not within the prescribed time and will receive a summons in due course
..."

But then on 11 June you post an update:

"... Contacted the police who confirmed receipt of driving licence details

I will be receiving a new conditional offer which will allow me to return to the fixed penalty stage.
Will also make payment of £100 as previous amount was refunded
..."

Are you saying that the police contradicted what they had previously told you and that in fact they admitted that they had received your details in time re the first COFP?

If so I don't understand why they couldn't just have said pay us the £100 again that we mistakenly refunded to you.  Issuing a second COFP seems daft and a recipe for confusion.

Have you any record of this exchange with the police?  Was it by email?  Did you record a converstaion?

Yes, the police contradicted what they said.

There is an internal email to the prosecutions manager heading 'complaint case - urgent' which was forwarded to me, in error. The contents of the email discuss me paying £100.00 payment.
No, not by email. I wanted to record the conversation, but thought it was wise not to do so, without their knowledge...

I don't think you've mentioned that before?  Does that internal email show that they actually did receive your details in time and that they cocked it all up?


Do they know you have it?  They might want to drop the prosecution out of embarrassment...  :)

Thanks - it simply states urgent complaint case and queries making payment. it was from Met Police, to the Fixed Penalty Team.

I'm not regulated by the SRA but I thought it was perfectly legal to record any conversation that you were a party to.  And that you didn't need to inform the other party. 

What is illegal is recording (or "bugging") a conversation you aren't a party to...

Re: SJPN to be received
« Reply #66 on: »
I see, my understanding was recording conversations, was permitted for personal use only. I guess I could have obtained permission from the court to release the recordings, I should have recorded the conversations in hindsight.

Thanks.

You’re thinking GDPR and lawful processing. There is authority (not least from the EAT) that “covert” recordings are admissible in evidence, subject to the court’s power to exclude evidence.
I am not qualified to give legal advice in the UK. While I will do my best to help you, you should not rely on my advice as if it was given by a lawyer qualified in the UK.
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Re: SJPN received
« Reply #67 on: »
Police's stance - 1st COFP was never cancelled (I was apparently informed in error by the fixed penalty office it was) and are not budging from this  :( 


Re: SJPN to be received
« Reply #68 on: »
There is no concept of "cancelling" a COFP in law. Whether they consider it cancelled, not cancelled or a small semi detached house on the outskirts of Basingstoke, is immaterial beyond illustrating their lack of competence and/or communication.
I am responsible for the accuracy of the information I post, not your ability to comprehend it.

Re: SJPN received
« Reply #69 on: »
Police's stance - 1st COFP was never cancelled (I was apparently informed in error by the fixed penalty office it was) and are not budging from this  :(
The first COFP and whether or not the police believe it has been cancelled is irrelevant.

It is the second one which prevents them taking court proceedings until its expiry. You were given a COFP dated 10th June. This means no proceedings can be taken until 8th July. The police issued a written charge on 27th June which, to my (admittedly simple) mind makes those proceedings unlawful.

It's no use the police saying "But this isn't really a COFP". It is. If they wanted to allow you to comply with the first one they should have found some other mechanism for you to do so which did not involve issuing a COFP.

Re: SJPN to be received
« Reply #70 on: »
Hello both,
Thanks for the response. Extremely kind of you both to respond. This is my argument also. If I’m honest, I think the Police (Prosecution Manager who I’m conversing with) is not happy I’ve tried to evade the 3 points.

Does question your faith in the Police…

Sincere thanks again.


Re: SJPN to be received
« Reply #71 on: »
...I think the Police (Prosecution Manager who I’m conversing with) is not happy I’ve tried to evade the 3 points.
From what you say, they had the opportunity to impose the three points when you responded to the first COFP. They seemingly blew it and that's scarcely your fault. You are also not to blame for them seeing fit to issue a second COFP when they should have found some other way to rectify the situation. So I shouldn't fret too much about his unhappiness.
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Re: SJPN to be received
« Reply #72 on: »
Phishy still.

Sandy - am I the only one to think you may not be the 'he' they are all referring to?

I think you think this will be made to 'go away' without it being referred to the Court.  At this stage it's quite clear that it will be and therefore I'd be requesting a hearing rather than a SJP procedure.

Re: SJPN to be received
« Reply #73 on: »
Yes, I am a ‘she’. Didn’t want to come across as rude and correct others

Thanks for the valuable response both.

I’m also definitely going to be making a complaint to the IOPC.