Bump in a car park: Can a driver be prosecuted if they leave the scene?

I may have accidentally clipped a car in a supermarket car park although I don't remember this happening. The police have since contacted me and say I can be prosecuted for failing to report an accident and leaving the scene. Is this correct? Isn't a car park private property?

Under road law, a car park may be treated "as a road" in certain circumstances if there is a separate entrance and exit, whether private property or not.

I am surprised that the police have become involved at all in such a minor matter as this situation arises frequently. If you accept that you caused the damage, your  best bet may be to report it to your insurers and make sure they concede liability to the Claimant immediately.

Then the police may be persuaded to drop the matter but this cannot be guaranteed.

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