LONDON — Britain’s interior minister on Saturday demanded an “urgent explanation” after police officers were filmed ramming a runaway cow with their car.
The Surrey Police force said it had referred itself to the police ethics watchdog over the incident.
The force said officers responded on Friday evening to reports of a loose cow ”running at members of the public” in Staines-upon-Thames, just outside London. and damaging a car. It said officers spent several hours trying to catch the animal, and eventually “a decision was made to stop it using a police car.”
Footage published on social media showed a cow running in a residential road being hit by a police car, getting up, and then being hit again.
The cow sustained a large cut to its leg and was being treated by a vet, police said.
Home Secretary James Cleverly posted on X: “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.”
The footage drew anger in animal-loving Britain. BBC nature presenter Chris Packham tweeted: “What sort of monster rams a calf?”
Animal welfare charity the RSPCA said that it would contact police over the “upsetting and distressing footage.”
Surrey Police said it had notified the Independent Office of Police conduct, which investigates misconduct allegations against officers.
Chief Inspector Sam Adcock said “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.”
The UK government is seeking answers after a police vehicle collided with a runaway cow in a rural area. The incident, which occurred last week, has raised questions about the safety of both the animals and the officers involved in such encounters.
The collision took place on a quiet country road in the early hours of the morning. The police vehicle was responding to a call about a loose cow wandering near the road when it suddenly darted out in front of the car. The impact was severe, causing damage to both the vehicle and the animal.
While no officers were injured in the collision, the incident has sparked concerns about the procedures and protocols in place for handling such situations. The government is now calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether proper precautions were taken to ensure the safety of both the officers and the animals involved.
In rural areas, encounters between law enforcement and livestock are not uncommon. Farmers often rely on police to help corral loose animals or address other issues related to their livestock. However, these encounters can be dangerous for both parties if proper precautions are not taken.
The government is now urging police departments to review their procedures for handling livestock-related incidents and to ensure that officers are properly trained to deal with such situations. This may include providing officers with additional training on how to safely approach and handle animals, as well as implementing protocols for securing loose livestock in a timely manner.
In addition to concerns about officer safety, there are also questions about the welfare of the animals involved in these incidents. The government is calling for measures to be put in place to prevent further collisions between police vehicles and livestock, including better fencing and containment systems for farms and stricter regulations for keeping animals secure.
Overall, the recent collision between a police vehicle and a runaway cow has highlighted the need for improved procedures and training when it comes to handling livestock-related incidents. The government is committed to ensuring the safety of both officers and animals in these situations and will be working closely with law enforcement agencies to address these concerns moving forward.
