Ditch crash biker ambulance response questioned by police commissioner

Richard Collins said he crashed when his bike caught the "crumbly" surface of the road

A police chief has questioned why his force was expected to "do the work" of the ambulance service by rescuing a biker left stranded in a ditch.

Richard Collins crashed near Tilbrook, Cambridgeshire, on Sunday and was taken to hospital by Bedfordshire Police nearly three hours later after an ambulance failed to arrive.

Bedfordshire PCC Olly Martins said police had taken "flak" for the delay.

East Midlands Ambulance Service said it could not respond as quickly as hoped.

Mr Collins, 49, was riding on the B645, near where the borders of Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire meet, when he crashed into a ditch, injuring his arm.

Between 16:00 BST and 18:15 two 999 calls and two 101 calls were made, with him being told police and ambulance crews were on their way. But no-one reached him until 18:40.

The crash happened on the B645, about a mile west of Tilbrook on the border of three counties

It was eventually established the crash occurred in Bedfordshire by a few metres and the force referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

In an open letter, Mr Martins said his force had been receiving "flak" for being one of three police forces that failed to attend the call, but admitted the confusion was "inexcusable".

Timeline of emergency calls

• 16:00 - 999 call by a member of the public - they are told police and ambulance will attend

• 17:15 - Mr Collins calls 101 and is told ambulance and police will be on their way

• 18:10 - He makes another 101 call and is connected to Northamptonshire Police, which transfers him to Cambridgeshire Police, which in turn tells him it is a matter for Bedfordshire Police

• 18:15 - He dials 999 again

• 18:40 - Bedfordshire Police arrive and take him by police car to hospital

"However, if I was injured and in need of help I would be hoping for an ambulance to arrive rather than a police car, and I am left wondering why Bedfordshire Police ended up doing the work of another emergency service," he said.

"Was there a crime? No, there was no other vehicle involved. Was there a hazard to other road users? Apparently not.

Olly Martins said it was the job of the ambulance service to pick up Mr Collins

"It's not the first time the police have been called on to do the work of the ambulance service, and I'm sure it won't be the last."

East Midlands Ambulance Service, which was tasked to the call, declined to comment further on Mr Martin's letter.

However, it re-emphasised its position on Thursday which said the call was "non-life threatening" and due to the high volume of urgent calls it could not respond "as quickly as we would have liked".