HARRIET HARMAN is being investigated by police over allegations she crashed her car while chatting on a mobile phone and left the scene of the accident without providing contact details.

The deputy leader of the Labour party reportedly wound down her window following the accident and told a witness who approached: “I’m Harriet Harman — you know where you can get hold of me.”

Leaving the scene of an accident without giving insurance or registration details is against the law.

The prang happened when Harman allegedly hit a parked car near her south London constituency of Camberwell and Peckham on July 3. On the same day as the accident Harman was visiting the scene of a tower block fire in Camberwell that killed six people.

Last night Scotland Yard confirmed it was investigating an accident in Dulwich, southeast London. A spokeswoman for Harman said she was “co-operating fully” with police but rebutted the allegation that she was talking on her mobile.

It is alleged Harman’s car collided with the other vehicle, resulting in a loud bang that alerted residents to the accident. Witnesses have claimed Harman stopped her vehicle following the crash and at that point ended her conversation on the phone.

It is illegal to drive in the UK while talking on a handheld mobile phone. Under the 1988 Road Traffic Act any driver involved in a collision with another vehicle must leave contact details as well as their vehicle’s registration number. Any driver unable to leave contact details must report the accident to police within seven days.

Careless driving is punishable by a fine of up to £2,500 and between three and nine penalty points.

Scotland Yard said last night: “We are investigating a minor traffic collision in Dulwich on July 3. We are in the process of taking statements from all parties concerned.”

Harman was fined £400 and banned from driving for a week in 2003 after she was convicted of driving at 99mph on a motorway. Two years ago she was issued with a £60 fixed penalty notice for driving at 50mph in a 40mph zone on the A14 in Suffolk.

Last night the spokeswoman for the MP said: “Ms Harman strongly refutes the allegations but is co-operating fully with the police.”

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