A Surrey police officer who rammed into a calf in the summer will return to frontline duties after the conclusion of an internal investigation, the force have said.
The investigation into the incident found the tactic to be “both lawful and necessary to prevent harm to the public and property”.
The incident occurred around midnight on 15 June, when a 10-month-old calf was struck by a police car driven by officers who had been called after reports of an animal on the loose in the market town of Staines-upon-Thames.
Footage of the incident quickly circulated online, leading to widespread condemnation of the police officer driving the car, with many saying the action seemed excessive and cruel.
Surrey police said that their investigation, which involved 250 pieces of video footage and 75 witness statements, found there was no cause for further action in either a criminal investigation or internal misconduct proceedings.
Deputy chief constable Nev Kemp said: “We appreciate the strength of feeling which remains in relation to this incident, which is why we committed to conducting a diligent and thorough investigation to determine whether any criminal offences had taken place in relation to the actions taken by Surrey police on the night.
“This involved gathering substantial amounts of video evidence, as well as speaking to witnesses, and animal welfare specialists to help inform the senior investigating officer [SIO]’s decision making. After investigating for five months, the SIO found that while there is necessary organisational learning in relation to how we handle loose livestock, no criminal offences were made … and therefore no further action should be taken against those who were involved.
“This determination was supported by the head of professional standards for Surrey police, who subsequently reviewed whether there was any potential misconduct. They determined a need for individual learning, but that no further action is taken in relation to misconduct. The driver of the vehicle will return to frontline duties in due course.”
