Surrey Police officer who rammed cow removed from frontline duties
The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct
A Surrey Police officer who used a police car to ram an escaped cow has been removed from frontline duties.
Footage from the area saw that the cow, which had escaped from a local farm was walking through the streets of Feltham in west London on Friday evening (June 14th).
In the videos, the 10-month calf from Staines-upon-Thames, given the name Beau Lucy, was crossing a road when a police car was seen ramming into the cow.
Speaking on the incident, Deputy Chief Constable Nev Kemp from the force said: "I fully appreciate the distress our handling of this incident has caused and will ensure that it is thoroughly and diligently investigated.
"At this time, the officer who was driving the police car has been removed from frontline duties pending the outcome of these investigations."
As well as this, the force has said it has referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to evaluate the response to the situation.
Kemp also gave an update on the current welfare of the cow, saying that the heifer has been returned to her owner and is "recuperating" with her herd.
As a result of the crash, the cow had been grazed, as well as sustaining a serious cut to one leg. She continues to be monitored by a local vet.
"I can confirm that on the night, efforts were made to contact local vets without success and efforts were simultaneously being made to identify the owner," he added.
"Why these were unsuccessful and what more could and should have been done will form a key part of the investigation."
Speaking to the Press Association, the cow's owner Rob, who is in his 60s said the method to bring her under control was "incorrect".
"I don't understand why they didn't use a tranquilising dart," he added. "If they used a tranquilising dart the animal would have calmed right down and gone over it if they needed to get a halter on it or restrain it."
The Home Office has also been in touch regarding the incident, according to Kemp, saying that they are liaising with local animal charities that had gotten in touch in the wake of the incident.