Police are facing fury after officers rammed a terrified cow with their squad car, as their force referred itself to a watchdog following demands for an explanation.
Home Secretary James Cleverly has been among the critics over the ‘heavy-handed’ approach taken by Surrey Police against a frightened calf in the middle of the road in Staines-upon-Thames.
Eyewitness Kai Bennetts, 22, told of being ‘disgusted’ at seeing the police ram the animal – saying how it was left with an ‘open gash’ and ‘loads of grazes where the skin had come off’ on being hurled several metres down the street.
Reports suggested the animal was knocked over near Bedfonts Lake Country Park in Hounslow, west London, while there has previously been a herd of cattle about three miles away at Saint Dunstan’s Meadow in Feltham.
Surrey Police has now announced that its Professional Standards Department has been informed and it will voluntarily refer to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for a further investigation.
Police officers rammed a cow with their squad car in Staines-upon-Thames, west London
Home Secretary James Cleverly has asked for an explanation into the action towards the calf
Calls have been made for the ‘monsters’ who rammed the calf to be sacked after a new video showed the bovine calmly wandering down the street before officers swooped in who said they had to knock the animal down to keep the public safe.
Mr Bennetts said that after the first strike, the cow ‘tried to get back up, and then they (the police) pushed it back over and blocked it by its neck and top half of his body and so it couldn’t get up’ – adding: ‘Inhumane is all I can say.’
Shocking footage shows police brutally smashing into the calf twice after it escaped from its enclosure as a nearby member of the public shouts: ‘What are you doing that for?’
Mr Cleverly, wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham and Deborah Meaden were among those condemning the ‘brutal’ actions of the police force.
Another witness Adrian Pearson told the BBC: ‘I think it could have been handled better. It’s quite extreme the way the police dealt with it.
‘I think it could have been dealt with a lot more humanely. I think it was quite distressing for everyone.’
Surrey Police has now said in a statement: ‘The cow was running loose throughout the evening on a number of main roads and during this time, we received numerous calls from the public reporting a car being damaged and it running at members of the public.
‘Given these reports, officers were extremely concerned about the public’s safety, and over a period of a number of hours tried a number of options to safely capture the cow.
‘Unfortunately, these were unsuccessful, and the decision was made to stop it using a police car. This matter has been referred to our Professional Standards Department. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has been notified and a voluntary referral will be made in due course.’
The cow has now been moved to a ‘nearby farm’ with the owner located and a vet assessing the animal’s injuries – described as ‘a large cut to its legs’.
Shocking footage shows police brutally smashing into the calf twice after it escaped from its enclosure as a nearby member of the public in Staines-upon-Thames, west London, shouts: ‘What are you doing that for?’
A police vehicle was captured ramming down a cow in the middle of a street on Friday after it escaped from its enclosure
A new video showed the bovine calmly wandering down the street before officers swooped in who said they had to knock the animal down to keep the public safe
Chief Insp Sam Adcock said: ‘I know that this has caused distress and I’d like to thank the community for their concern.
‘The decision to use the police car is one that was only taken after other methods to stop the cow had failed.
‘There will be an investigation into the actions that led to this, but our focus at all times is on ensuring the safety of the public.
‘I know there are videos circulating of this incident, which the public may find distressing. I would ask that these videos are sent directly to us to help with our investigation.’
Critics included Mr Packham, who wrote on X, formerly Twitter: ‘I don’t know where to start with this. But it’s surely illegal and must be investigated and prosecuted. What sort of monster rams a calf? Twice?’
Mr Cleverly also asked for a ‘full, urgent explanation’ as to why officers appeared to use a police car to hit an escaped cow, saying how the police action seemed ‘unnecessarily heavy handed’.
The RSPCA described the footage as ‘upsetting and distressing’ and said the police ‘action appears disproportionate to the situation’.
Dragons’ Den judge Ms Meaden also took to X to voice her shock over the incident, writing: ‘Jeez….that is a scared, living, breathing creature and @SurreyPolice show such little compassion they decide ramming it with a vehicle is their only option….come on!!
‘I know it’s not all Police but seriously….this really must have serious consequences.’
The calf appeared curious as it walked towards Kai Bennetts, who said the police ramming the animal twice was ‘inhumane’
Surrey Police said in a statement that officers turned to the police car to stop the cow after other less drastic methods failed. The force will refer itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct
Actor James Dreyfus decided not to share the toe-curling footage but expressed his anger at how the officers had treated the ‘terrified cow’.
He posted: ‘I’m not reposting the utterly horrific video taken of these b******* running over an escaped terrified cow. Not once. Not twice. But THREE times.
‘Backing up each time then driving full tilt & the injured animal till it was under the wheels of the car. F*** YOU @SurreyPolice.’
Author Adrian Hilton also called on the officers involved to be prosecuted, writing: ‘I hope the @RSPCA_official opens an investigation into this, which is harrowing to watch and utterly deplorable.
‘I can’t see any reason for this action: cows can be corralled by people. I’ve done it.’
An RSPCA spokesman said: ‘This is upsetting and distressing footage.
‘As soon as we were made aware, we urgently contacted the police to establish the background and to find out what happened to the calf. We are pleased to hear the calf survived and is receiving vet care.
‘Surrey Police has referred themselves to their own professional standards department and to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. We support this as the action appears disproportionate to the situation.
‘We are happy to assist in any investigations carried out. All animals should be treated with respect. Together we can create a better world for all animals.’
A spokesperson for the IOPC said: ‘We have been notified by Surrey Police about this incident and that a referral will be made in due course.
Wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham, Home Secretary James Cleverly and Deborah Meaden were among those condemning the ‘brutal’ actions of the police force
‘When we receive it we will carry out an assessment to determine what further action is required by us.’
In an earlier statement published on Friday evening Surrey Police said the animal became ‘increasingly distressed’ while it was being taken to safety. The cow was moved to a local park where it was waiting for a vet.
Chief Insp Adam Tatton said: ‘Our priority when responding to any incident is first and foremost the safety of the public.
‘I would like to thank the community for their understanding this evening, and ask that they stay away from the park while officers are on scene.’