Apology for father billed for son’s crash report

POLICE in the Highlands have apologised to a grieving father forced to pay £500 to view a police report on the accident which killed his 17-year-old son.

Northern Constabulary has now accepted the decision to bill the family of Christopher Durrand, who died in a car crash in Caithness, was “inappropriate and insensitive” and has refunded the cash.

The victim’s father George Durrand was told the report could not be obtained under Freedom of Information legislation and he would have to pay £500.

They were also informed that it was “uncommon” for bereaved relatives to request accident reports.

Mr Durrand, who owns Oldwick Garage in Wick, and partner Valerie Henderson said they were still distressed by their treatment and want to ensure other bereaved family do not suffer a similar experience.

He said: “What are they doing doing to make sure that this doesn’t happen to anyone else? I want to make sure that no other parent has to go through this.

“If it was uncommon, they should have put more thought into how they dealt with us.”

Mr Durrand added it had been “insulting” to be asked to pay, saying: “Over the last year, it has been unbelievable how we as a family have been treated.

“It is the right of every parent to find out what caused one of their children to lose their life.

“We have been fighting every step of the way to get any information about what happened to Christopher in the accident.

“The reason I paid for it is because we needed to move forward to see if the report would help us find out what really happened to our son.

“We have paid enough with the loss of Christopher – we should not have to pay any more.”

Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Rob Gibson contacted the force on behalf of the family, whose teenage son died in a crash on 12 February last year when the car he was driving left the B876 Wick to Castletown road, near Bower, and hit a tree.

In a response to Mr Durrand, temporary superintendent Paul Eddington said that while there is a “national policy, process and fee” to provide reports to insurance companies and solicitors who were involved in formal actions, it was uncommon for bereaved families to ask for a copy.

He added: “Andy Cowie, acting chief constable of Northern Constabulary, has determined that asking for such a fee for a road collision report from you, in the terrible circumstances that you found yourselves, was inappropriate and insensitve.

“In dealing with a grieiving family in such traumatic circumstances we should have shown more understanding and compassion and should not have sought a fee for this report from you.

“I would like to offer my most sincere and unreserved apologies for any distress caused to you at a difficult time.”

Mr Gibson said: “I welcome the decision and apology from Northern Constabulary however it is very unfortunate that it ever came to this point.”

“I have also contacted the Justice Secretary to highlight the issue. I hope that some clarity will be brought over the subject and that no other family has to suffer this situation again.”

The policy of charging the public for reports was approved by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.