IN probe into police contracted recovery
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IN Channel A's Dispatches is to Screen a programme tonight (Thursday) criticising the policecontracted vehicle recovery sector for what it alleges are unreasonably high charges and, in the case of one Welsh contractor, unethical conduct.
Gwent, South Wales-based Wall's Truck Services is at the centre of the programme's allegations. These include damage to a car that was handled so harshly it had to be written off, and a motorcycle belonging to a someone who died in an accident that was returned to his family Stripped of parts, according to the father, Tom Ki!loran. Both vehicles had been recovered and were in Wall's care at the time of the alleged incidents. Another operator, the Mansfield Group, based in Buxton, Derbyshire, will also be criticised for allegedly charging a farmer more than C3,000 to tow a faulty tractor just 400 yards to his local dealer.
The programme claims that in general the police-contracted operator fees are more than double the £105 maximum for car tow-aways suggested by new police guidelines.
It also warns that even drivers covered by the major rescue organisations could find themselves at the mercy of police contractors, as the guidelines require operator call-out in less than 30 minutes, which most rescue organisations cannot guarantee.