A bizarre incident involving a police vehicle and a cow, which occurred last month in Staines, is now being treated as both a criminal and internal misconduct matter, Surrey Police announced.
The cow, named Beau Lucy, was involved in a collision with a police vehicle after escaping from a local farm and roaming the streets, causing significant public concern. The incident, which took place in the early hours of June 15, was caught on video and quickly went viral, sparking widespread outrage.
Home Secretary James Cleverly described the police actions, which involved officers using their vehicle to ram the cow, as “unnecessarily heavy-handed.
Surrey Police have since conducted extensive inquiries, knocking on approximately 290 doors and gathering statements from 75 witnesses. They are also reviewing over 250 video clips provided by the public.
The officer involved in the incident resigned the following day, and Beau Lucy was returned to her owner with injuries. The cow’s owner, Rob, reported, “She hasn’t broken anything but has a huge great gouge in her leg,” indicating that while the injuries were severe, they were not life-threatening.
Deputy Chief Constable Nev Kemp emphasized the importance of the ongoing investigation, stating, “This demonstrates why a thorough investigation is important, as it ensures all potential criminal and misconduct matters are clearly understood.
The police force has received over 20,000 messages on social media and 2,000 complaints, highlighting the strong public reaction to the incident. DCC Kemp added, “It is therefore of greatest importance to conduct a diligent investigation so we can provide the owner of Beau Lucy, and the public, with answers as to how this incident happened and the events which led up to it.
Surrey Police have committed to keeping the public informed as the investigation progresses, promising significant updates on their website.
