'They should be trying to find burglars and thieves': Veteran former detective slams police over pee splash investigation, as members of the public wonder if there are more serious crimes to investigate
A senior officer has criticized a police force for wasting their time chasing a driver who sped through a large puddle and wet a family when they should be 'finding burglars and thieves'.
A family of five, three of whom were disabled children, were soaked from head to toe during the incident in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, on Tuesday.
Derbyshire Police say they are aware of the incident and efforts to trace the driver are continuing, but many members of the public feel police are wasting their time.
Mick Neville, a former Scotland Yard detective, supported this view, telling MailOnline that it was an 'easy thing' for the local community support worker if they had the car's registration number.
Mr Neville said: 'If they have a registration number it seems easy for the local PCSO to 'put in a word', but if not they have to try and find burglars and thieves.'
All five family members, three of whom are disabled children, were soaked from head to toe during the incident in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, on Tuesday.
Mick Neville, a former Scotland Yard detective, supported this view, telling MailOnline that it was an 'easy matter' for the local community support worker if they had the car's registration number.
Social media users expressed their frustration
Many thought it was a waste of police time
Tired criticism of Derbyshire Police
The family, who wish to remain anonymous, were walking around 2.20pm when a white car approached them.
Others agreed with Mick Neville and said police should focus their attention elsewhere
The family members walked past a large puddle and the mother gestured “stop” to the driver, who instead “speeded up” and completely submerged them.
The children's mother and grandmother described the driver's behavior as 'incredibly callous', The Telegraph reports. However, social media users took to X, formally known as Twitter, to express their frustration over the police hunt for the driver.
One user posted: 'FFS. Plod must be utterly bored, and it must be a slow news day in Swadlincote, if this is all they have'
Another said: 'Seriously? Tens of thousands of unsolved crimes, but this gets their attention?”
A third wrote: 'FFS! Who would call the police because they got wet?! Time wasters!'
A fourth put it simply: “Meanwhile… In true crime… the police can't be bothered.”
The woman involved in the incident said two of the children are physically challenged and were upset by the ordeal.
She said: 'My son is 6ft tall and he was soaked. The water flowed straight over his head.
'My two-year-old granddaughter shouted: 'I don't like it'. The stroller was soaking wet.”
“I was shocked more than anything. It's incredibly numb.'
Splashing a pedestrian by driving through puddles next to a pavement can be considered a criminal offense under the Road Traffic Act 1988, with possible fines of up to £5,000 and nine points per driving licence.
If motorists are caught, they face a £100 fine and three penalty points.
Derbyshire Police have been contacted for comment.
Elsewhere, shocking dashcam footage was shared yesterday showing a motorist driving through a puddle and callously drenching a garbage collector as he tried to clean up after the festive period, leaving locals outraged and demanding police action.
Retired police officer Julie Lancaster was amazed to witness the incident in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, as Storm Henk drenched Britain earlier this week.
The 64-year-old former sergeant was driving home from the dry cleaners when she saw the garbage man on the other side of the road, collecting loose cardboard next to the puddle.