Operation Snap
Operation Snap is a secure online platform that allows you to submit video evidence of driving offences that you or other members of the public have witnessed. Its purpose is to improve road safety and to prosecute those that place others at risk. The service has been produced with the support of the Department for Transport.
The online service allows us to effectively deal with the footage recorded by members of the public in a safe and secure way, whilst making the investigation process simple and straightforward. We have a determined and robust approach to policing the roads and we’ll take every opportunity to make them safer for everyone.
This portal can only be used for driving offences, it is not for submitting footage of Road Traffic Collisions or public order offences, and is not for reporting crime.
It’s easy for people to engage in Operation Snap and processes have been designed to run smoothly. Operation Snap is not asking you to go out and detect offences for us, but we will deal with any you find.
Operation Snap has one desired outcome: making our roads safer.
For other crime reporting methods, please see our main report it page.
In an emergency always dial 999 where there is a threat to life or a crime in progress, for non-emergencies dial 101.
What to expect after you make a report
Every Operation Snap submission will receive a response within 14 days.
We will provide you a response as to whether further action will be taken or not.
We are unable to tell you exactly what the outcome or action might have been in order to comply with the Data Protection Act 1988 and General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
Things to consider before making a report
Before you report a traffic offence to us:
- Ensure that you have read and understand the information about the Operation Snap service
- You must be able to provide the registration number of the offending vehicle
- You should be prepared to sign a witness statement and possibly give evidence in court.
We can only accept a statement for Operation Snap from persons aged 18 or over. If you are under 18, please report your incident online or by calling 101.
Time frames for making a report
Please make sure you have uploaded your submissions as soon as possible.
In order to identify the driver committing the offence, police must also usually serve a Notice of Intended Prosecution to the registered keeper of the vehicle concerned within 14 days of the offence.
What you can report
The Operation Snap online form is for traffic offences only. It is not for submitting footage of road traffic collisions or any other offences.
The offences that we can investigate through Operation Snap include:
- dangerous driving
- driving without due care and attention
- careless driving
- using a mobile phone handheld whilst driving
- not wearing a seat belt
- ignoring a red traffic light
- disregarding solid white lines
- close passes of cyclists
- Zigzag lines (outside school)
- Zigzag lines (pedestrian crossing)
- Wilful obstruction
- Unnecessary obstruction
Cyclists and close passes
We wish to support individuals choosing a sustainable form of transport such as cycling, and recognise they are one of our more vulnerable road users. We will hold drivers to account on every occasion where we identify that the standard of driving falls below that of a careful and competent driver.
The police will deal with all matters such as careless or dangerous riding if the identity of the rider is known. Vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists are at much greater risk of serious injury and death than those in vehicles. Our priority is to protect those most vulnerable.
Parking offences
We will investigate parking offences which include zig zag lines within pedestrian crossing/outside school, wilful/unnecessary obstruction (i.e parking fully on footpath).
We will not deal with parking offences on single/double yellow lines. If you need to report a parking offence such as this please report this to the relevant local council or highway authority in the area where it happened.
Road rage incidents and other types of offences
If you need to report a road rage incident, please do not use Operation Snap. Instead, you should report it online or call 101. If it’s an emergency, call 999.
If you have footage of any other types of offences that are not road traffic related and not covered by Operation Snap then we recommend you to contact the relevant authority to provide them with the footage. This generally tends to be the police or the local authority.
You can contact Humberside Police online or by calling 101.
How Operation Snap works
If you need to report a road traffic offence and have supporting video evidence, then you can use the Operation Snap online form to make the report and upload the evidence.
What the Police do with the evidence you provide
A Police Officer will review any evidence that you provide to the police (digital media footage and a statement) to establish if an offence had been committed and if so, to identify the specific offence. For cases recommended to proceed, staff from Humberside Police Central Ticket Office will serve Notice of Intended Prosecution to the registered keeper of the vehicle requiring the identity of the driver.
For each case, we’ll take consideration with reference to:
- CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) charging standards
- Eligibility Criteria
- Professional Practice on options to deal with road traffic offenders.
Police Evidential Reviewers will direct the appropriate outcome, the options of which are to:
- Prosecute the case at court
- Offer a National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) driver educational course
- Offer a fixed penalty (which could include both a fine and licence endorsement.)
By using Operation Snap, the user agrees to leave the question of prosecution or other outcome in the hands of the police.
What to do with the footage
Uploading footage to social media
Do not upload your footage to social media. Advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is that your footage should not be in the public domain as this may adversely affect any subsequent proceedings.
Quality of the footage
We cannot enhance any recorded footage. If you’re unable to read a vehicle’s registration plate in the original footage, then it’s unlikely that the police will be able to read it either.
Date and time of the footage
Ideally the date and time should be correct. The video footage is used to support your written witness testimony. You must account for any discrepancies in date or time within your witness evidence presented to us. Your witness statement must clearly state what time and date the incident occurred.