An officer filmed deliberately driving a police car into a cow has been removed from frontline duties, Surrey Police have confirmed.
The incident, which occurred in Staines-upon-Thames on Friday evening, was captured on video and widely shared on social media. The footage shows a police car hitting a cow twice, prompting widespread outrage and calls for accountability.
Deputy Chief Constable Nev Kemp addressed the public’s concerns, stating, “I fully appreciate the distress our handling of this incident has caused and will ensure that it is thoroughly and diligently investigated. At this time, the officer who was driving the police car has been removed from frontline duties pending the outcome of these investigations.
The farmer’s partner, Kate, described the incident as “disgusting” and expressed her belief that the officer should “lose his job” over his actions. The cow, a 10-month-old breeding heifer named Beau Lucy, suffered no broken bones but remains at risk of dying from shock. She is currently recovering in a barn with other calves.
Home Secretary James Cleverly has called for a “full, urgent explanation” regarding the incident. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said, “I can think of no reasonable need for this action. I’ve asked for a full, urgent explanation for this. It appears to be unnecessarily heavy handed.”
Surrey Police issued a statement following the incident, explaining that they responded to reports of a cow running loose and causing damage to property and posing a danger to people. The police stated that after multiple attempts to safely capture the cow over several hours failed, the decision was made to use a police car to stop it.
The RSPCA has also released a statement on the “upsetting and distressing footage” and said it “urgently contacted” police as soon as it was made aware of the incident. All animals should be treated with respect,” the charity added. Together we can create a better world for all animals.
TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham also condemned the incident, posting on X, “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?”
The matter has been referred to the police’s professional standards department, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been notified.
Chief Inspector Sam Adcock commented, “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.”
Police have asked for videos of the “distressing” incident to be sent to them to assist with the investigation.
