SECTION 172 FORM REFERENCES
Section 172 form references including 172/7 and 172/28
Police paperwork can contain local administrative references such as 172/7 or 172/28. The reference alone does not determine the legal duty, deadline or validity of the document.
Checked against primary legal sources for England and Wales · Updated 21 August 2026 · How we review content
Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 creates the information requirement. Local form references are not a single national set of prescribed statutory forms. Read the heading, addressee, request, service date and response instructions on the actual document.
Protect the deadline before deciding anything else
- Preserve every page and envelope.
- Identify the issuing force, addressee, allegation and response instruction.
- Calculate the response period from service and use the force approved response route.
What does a 172/7 or 172/28 reference mean?
It may be an internal police or processing system reference associated with driver information paperwork. Usage is not demonstrated to be uniform across all forces. Do not infer a national legal meaning from the number alone.
Is there a downloadable national Section 172 form?
The statutory duty is created by section 172, but police forces issue their own combined notices, letters and response routes. A generic downloaded form should not replace the method required by the actual notice unless the issuing authority confirms it will be accepted.
What makes the request legally important?
- The identity of the person or organisation required to respond
- The information actually requested
- The date and method of service
- The printed response period and approved route
- Evidence that a response was submitted
What if only a reminder has arrived?
A reminder may not safely restart the original period. Contact the issuing office promptly, request a copy of the original material and preserve evidence of any earlier response or address problem.
Turn your paperwork into a clear next-step checklist.
Preserve the notice, dates and response record
Build a notice chronology, deadline record, document checklist and concise solicitor briefing in NoticeReady Case. It does not determine whether the notice is valid.
QUICK ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions
What is form 172/7?
It appears to be an administrative reference used on some police paperwork, not a universal statutory form number. Read the complete document and issuing force instructions.
Can I download a Section 172 form?
Do not substitute a generic form for the response route required by the issuing force unless that force confirms it is acceptable.