Read the Form First!
If you are applying for a police collision report for insurance or civil litigation purposes, a simple status enquiry could cost you. In at least one force area, the disclosure form states that:
‘Full disclosure will not be provided until a specified future date’.
If you submit an email to check the status before that date, and the investigation is still ongoing, an additional £50 administration fee per email may apply. This charge is described within the disclosure form itself and is added to the total payable once the case concludes.
In practical terms, a routine “Is the report ready yet?” email sent too early could generate a fee.
Why This Matters
Many practitioners operate under time pressure and routinely chase updates as part of file progression. However, disclosure under insurance or litigation gateways is not the same as a Subject Access Request, and different charging structures apply. The key point is awareness. Before sending a status enquiry:
✔ Check the “disclosure withheld until” date
✔ Record it clearly
✔ Avoid chasing before that date unless necessary
Failure to do so may result in avoidable cost.
A copy of the relevant disclosure form and wording is available here