The baby cow that was filmed being run over by police had gone on a rampage, ramming a police car and charging at and threatening people, the police watchdog has said.
The incident last Friday was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which on Wednesday said Surrey, the force involved, should investigate complaints received.
Surrey police, who were heavily criticised after the footage was posted online, said the investigation would be overseen by a senior officer who usually deals with murders and the most serious and complex crimes.
The IOPC assessed statements from police and witnesses and studied video footage, including from bodyworn cameras worn by officers. It said the calf was on the loose for several hours.
An IOPC spokesperson said: “Footage of the cow being struck by a police car was shared widely on social media and we have examined this along with footage and audio provided by the force from the officers’ bodyworn videos. They show the animal ramming a police car, charging at members of the public and posing a risk to road users.”
The 10-month-old calf called Beau Lucy briefly became Britain’s most famous animal after footage of a small part of the incident in Staines-upon-Thames surfaced. A police vehicle is seen striking the cow, which appears to go partially under the car’s front bumper before getting up. The calf is said to be recovering.
The incident triggered outrage and bemusement, with the RSPCA describing the police action as “disproportionate”. The cow’s owner, named only as Rob, said the clip was horrific, while the wildlife presenter and conservationist Chris Packham asked: “What sort of monster rams a calf?”
The home secretary, James Cleverly, 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 IOPC had to wait for someone directly affected by the incident to formally complain. The cow’s owner did not but it is understood that two witnesses to the incident did lodge complaints.
An IOPC spokesperson said: “After careful consideration, we have decided that an investigation is required into whether the methods used to contain the cow were appropriate and proportionate in these circumstances, and whether the officers upheld police standards of professional behaviour throughout the incident, including their communication with members of the public who were present.
“However, we do not consider the investigation needs to be undertaken by the IOPC, so it will be for Surrey’s professional standards department to take it forward. If the complainants are unhappy with the outcome of the investigation, they will have a right of review to the IOPC, providing a level of independent oversight.”
The officer who rammed the cow has been removed from frontline duties pending investigation.
After the IOPC announcement, Surrey deputy chief constable Nev Kemp said: “I know how important it is that we provide the public with answers as to how these actions came about and what events led up to it. A full and thorough investigation will be led by Surrey police’s professional standards department and overseen by a senior investigating officer from Surrey and Sussex police’s major crime team.
“This will take time, however I reaffirm my commitment to ensuring that this is diligently investigated and we will also continue to provide updates to our local community and the wider public via our website.”
