Labour leader Keir Starmer said he was left “shocked” by harrowing footage that showed officers repeatedly ram an escaped calf in Surrey.
The Labour leader shared his concern as he and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves visited Southampton today. While the pair spoke to workers at Ocean Gate, Starmer also spoke out over the harrowing footage of Surrey Police officers repeatedly ramming the animal in Staines-upon-Thames at about 8.55pm on Friday.
During a quickfire Q&A session with reporters, Starmer said: “I was really shocked when I saw that footage. I think anybody who saw the footage would be.” The Labour leader also responded “yes” when asked if the incident amounted to animal cruelty.
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The ramming incident sparked widespread outrage online after the calf – later revealed to be named Beau Lucy – was struck five times by the police car. In the footage of the incident, a person could be heard shouting “they just killed it.”
Beau Lucy was seen standing in the middle of a road before an officer drove at the calf and sent her flying several feet forward, knocking her to the ground. As the poor calf struggled to get to her feet, the driver accelerated and pinned Beau Lucy under the front of the car.
Officers then got out of the car to assess the situation. A factory worker who stayed with the calf until it was taken away in a horse box claimed police had radioed for armed officers to come out and shoot the animal. The officer involved in the incident has been suspended from frontline duties.
Surrey Police Deputy Chief Constable Nev Kemp previously said: “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 (IOPC) for independent consideration.
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“At this time, the officer who was driving the police car has been removed from frontline duties pending the outcome of these investigations.” Home Secretary James Cleverly had asked for a “full, urgent explanation” as to why officers used the car to ram the escaped animal, saying it seemed “unnecessarily heavy handed”.
The animal, a 10-month-old calf named Beau Lucy, is “limping” but doing “a lot better” and taking medicine to treat her injuries, according to her farmer owner. The force said it had been alerted by calls reporting that a car had been damaged and the animal was running at members of the public.
Deputy Chief Constable Kemp added: “I know there is much concern around the current welfare of the cow. She is now back with her owner and recuperating with her herd. She did sustain a large cut to one leg and cuts and grazes. She continues to be monitored by a vet and our rural officers are staying in contact with the owner for updates.
“I can confirm that on the night, efforts were made to contact local vets without success and efforts were simultaneously being made to identify the owner. Why these were unsuccessful and what more could and should have been done will form a key part of the investigation.” The Mirror has contacted Surrey Police for comment.