An escaped cow was hit by a police car on a residential street in Staines-upon-Thames, causing a public outrage after a video of the incident went viral. On Sunday, the Surrey Police confirmed that the driver of the car had been removed from frontline duties. Many questioned whether the cow could have been subdued by other means, such as the use of tranquiliser darts. However, Hugh Broom, livestock chairman for the National Farmers’ Union’s South East division, said that officers probably “did the right thing at the time” even though the incident looked “horrendous”. He went on to outline the possible alternatives as shooting the animal or using a rifle on a dark night in a populated area—a situation he called “not really appropriate” for such action.
The video of the incident drew significant online and media attention, and the case was referred to the professional standards department of the Surrey Police, who voluntarily submitted to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The cow’s owner said on Sunday that the animal was recovering, while the force defended its response, stating that the safety of the public was paramount and that the welfare of the animal was a priority as well.
Mr. Broom expressed concern about the potential danger that the animal posed if it had continued to run free, potentially injuring or even killing a passerby. Some felt that a system for registering farmers and animal owners, which would allow authorities to contact them in situations such as these, would be a practical solution—but one that has yet to be developed. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Constable Nev Kemp, who admitted that local vets and the animal’s owner had not been located, said that he was “committed to ensuring that we have a full understanding of what took place and why”. Investigations will continue while the cow continues its recovery.
The use of police cars as animal deterrents has sparked controversy worldwide, with some arguing that such an approach constitutes excessive force while others contend that police have a duty to protect the public, as well as the safety of the animals themselves. The question of what to do in such situations remains complex, but with the growing sophistication of non-lethal methods and crowd control, it is possible that alternatives to hitting and/or shooting may become more commonplace in future
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