Police ‘probably right’ to ram cow with car, says farmer’s union official

Police were “probably right” to run over an escaped 10-month-old calf, according to a farmers’ union official.

Hugh Broom, National Farmers’ Union’s South East livestock chairman, said although the situation looked “horrendous”, officers had limited options and probably took the correct course of action.

The officer, who was driving the police vehicle used to ram the calf, was removed from front-line duties on Sunday amid widespread anger over the use of force.

Footage emerged showing the police car ploughing into the calf twice in a residential street in Feltham, west London. It first knocked the animal, named Beau Lucy, several yards down the road before pinning it to the ground.

Surrey Police has launched an internal investigation into the incident, which happened on Friday night, and referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

‘Right thing at the time’

Mr Broom told BBC Radio Surrey: “While the whole thing looks horrendous, and it is for everyone, they probably did the right thing at the time.

“The other option is you shoot the animal. In that environment would you want to be using a rifle in a built-up area on a dark Friday night?”

Mr Broom added: “God forbid it had gone the other way and the animal ran off and bumped into someone, sent a child flying, sent any person flying, [which is] perfectly possible, and they were seriously injured or worse.

“People would be saying: ‘Why wasn’t the animal stopped?’”

Sir Keir Starmer has said he was “really shocked” by the video of the incident. When asked about it while campaigning in Southampton, the Labour leader said: “I think anybody who saw that footage would be shocked.

“I think you’ll correct me if I’m wrong, the officer has been taken off front-line duties. But yeah, I was shocked.”

‘Illogical to get upset’

Amid the outrage, John Simpson, the BBC’s world affairs editor, suggested those voicing criticism to the force and then “sitting down to enjoy Sunday roast beef” were “illogical”.

Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: “Isn’t there something a bit illogical about getting upset by a police car hitting a cow, then sitting down to enjoy a Sunday lunch of roast beef?”

He added: “Interesting to see the angry reactions to this. Could it be that some people are uncomfortable with being reminded that their lunch used to be a sentient creature?”

The 10-month-old female calf got loose from common grazing land in Staines on Friday evening and was reportedly charging around a residential area.

Surrey Police insisted officers had spent several hours trying to catch the animal before the decision was made to run it down using a car to keep the public safe.

But when footage of the incident emerged, James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, demanded an “urgent explanation” from the force, describing the response as “unnecessarily heavy-handed”.

Other commentators, including animal rights campaigners, complained about the police’s response. Chris Packham, the wildlife TV presenter, described those responsible as “monsters” and suggested they should be “investigated and prosecuted”.

Dept Chief Constable Nev Kemp of Surrey Police said on Sunday: “I fully appreciate the distress our handling of this incident has caused and will ensure that it is thoroughly and diligently investigated.

“In addition to an internal referral to our professional standards department, we have also referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for independent consideration.

“At this time, the officer who was driving the police car has been removed from front-line duties pending the outcome of these investigations.”

‘Time will tell’

The owner of the animal, who would only give his name as Rob, described the footage as horrific and said the incident could have been handled “so much better”.

The calf suffered a gash to its leg but is recovering after being treated by a vet.

“I don’t understand why [the police] didn’t use a tranquilising dart,” the owner said. “If they used a tranquilising dart the animal would have calmed right down… if they needed to get a halter on it or restrain it.”

He said the animal was “a lot better” and was recovering well, but added: “Time will tell because we don’t know what internal injuries she might have.

“But she’s eating so there’s always promise when there’s that.”

Friends of the cow’s owner told MailOnline they feared she may be infertile following the attack. The calf had been designated from birth for breeding, they said.

More than 30 people have been killed by stampeding cows in the UK in the last six years.