The police decision to ram the escaped cow with a patrol car is being investigated as a criminal matter and an internal misconduct matter.
Surrey Police came under fire after a video was posted online showing a 10-month-old calf being hit by a police vehicle late on Wednesday night after responding to a report of an escaped animal in Staines-upon-Thames.
Police said Thursday that as part of their investigation, they have visited 290 homes, distributed 210 flyers along the calf’s route, contacted 75 witnesses and received more than 250 video clips.
The investigation is being led by the Professional Standards Office and overseen by a senior inspector.
Deputy Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp said: “This important update shows why thorough investigations are so important to ensure all potential criminal and misconduct issues are clearly understood.”
“Obviously, this takes time.”
The calf’s owners, Rob and Kate, said last month that giving Surrey Police permission to carry out their own investigation made it easier for them to justify their action.
“We continue to believe that the way this situation was handled was cruel and barbaric,” they added.
Surrey Police said officers tried a number of methods to capture the calf, named Beau Lucy, after receiving reports it was running towards members of the public and damaging vehicles, but ultimately decided to use a patrol car to stop it forcibly.
The cow, with all its injuries and bruises, was returned to Rob’s farm near the Surrey-Middlesex border where it is recovering.
release date: Radio News Hub
