Police officer who rammed cow removed from front-line duties

A police officer who was driving a marked car used to ram an escaped calf has been removed from front-line duties, Surrey Police has confirmed.

The force said it had started an internal investigation into the incident, which happened on Friday night, and has also referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

There was widespread criticism of the force after footage emerged showing the police car ploughing into the animal twice in a residential street in Feltham, west London. It first knocked the animal several yards down the road before pinning it to the ground.

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.”

Calf ‘charging around’ residential area

The 10-month-old female calf, named Beau Lucy, 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 in order 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 to the situation. Chris Packham, the wildlife TV presenter, described those responsible as “monsters” and suggesting they should be “investigated and prosecuted”.

The owner of the animal described the footage as horrific and said the incident could have been handled “so much better”.

However, Lisa Townsend, the police and crime commissioner for Surrey, urged people not to speculate on what had happened without understanding the full facts.

She said: “I understand the concern that this has caused both in the local community and beyond and that many people are worried about the welfare of the animal involved.

“The cow is being treated by a vet and receiving care and like everyone, I hope that she makes a full recovery.

Animal being treated for gash to leg

“There is much speculation on social media, which does not necessarily reflect the situation, which was ongoing for a number of hours, or the difficult decisions facing officers on the ground at the time.”

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

Its owner, who would only give his name as Rob, suggested a vet should have been involved in the animal’s capture.

He said: “I don’t understand why [the police] didn’t use a tranquilising dart,” he 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 and she’s cudding so there’s always promise when there’s that.”

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