The Surrey Police force has landed itself in hot water following an incident involving a cow that was deliberately struck twice by a response vehicle. Despite attempts to capture the cow safely over several hours, the situation became increasingly difficult, prompting the force to make the decision to stop the animal using a police car. The RSPCA has denounced the police force’s approach, claiming that it “appears disproportionate”, and the Home Secretary James Cleverly described it as “heavy-handed”.
The incident was captured on video and shared online, where it soon went viral. The footage shows a marked vehicle hitting the cow not once, but twice, causing the animal to appear stunned and struggle to get back on its feet. Witnesses and bystanders can be heard reacting with shock as the incident unfolds.
For its part, Surrey Police has said that, after being hit twice by the police car, the cow was seen by a vet and is receiving treatment for a large cut on its leg. The force has also stated that it will refer itself to the police complaints watchdog and has reported the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The incident took place in Staines-upon-Thames shortly before 21:00 BST on a Friday evening, and while the cow was causing traffic disruption, officers tried to move it to safety but it became increasingly distressed and ultimately hurt itself.
The RSPCA supports the police force’s decision to investigate itself, offering whatever assistance possible in any investigations carried out. Several leading activists and key players in the animal welfare world have called for the police force to be held accountable and punished for the incident, with broad agreement that striking and harming a distressed and confused animal cannot be justified.
Ch Insp Tatton Sam Adcock has said simply that “the decision to use the police car is one that was only taken after other methods to stop the cow had failed”. However, such a statement is unlikely to calm public opinion or stem the calls for accountability and justice. It is expected that this incident will continue to gain notoriety in the public imagination and be a topic of discussion and controversy for some time to come
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