A video circulating on social media depicts a police vehicle colliding with a cow, sending it skidding down the road. The car then approaches the animal again, appearing to trap its head.
The Home Secretary has called for a “full, urgent explanation” after a police car was filmed deliberately driving into a cow twice. The video, which surfaced on social media this morning, shows the loose cow falling and skidding several meters down a road after being struck by the vehicle.
As the cow attempts to get back on its feet, the car approaches for a second time. When two officers exit the vehicle, the cow’s head and part of its torso appear trapped underneath the front of the car. Another police car is visible on an adjacent street.
James Cleverly stated in a post on X: “I can think of no reasonable need for this action. I’ve asked for a full, urgent explanation for this. It appears to be unnecessarily heavy-handed.”
Surrey Police has issued a statement explaining that it responded to reports of a cow running loose in Staines-upon-Thames around 8:55 pm on Friday. The police had received “numerous calls from the public reporting a car being damaged” and the animal running at people.
“Officers… throughout several hours tried several options to capture the cow safely,” the police statement read. “Unfortunately, these were unsuccessful, and the decision was made to stop it using a police car.”
Public members helped move the cow to a nearby farm early this morning. Sky News understands the animal is a calf who doesn’t yet have a name. Its owner, unaware of the escape until this morning, reported that the cow suffered a cut but no broken bones. The calf is now back at its farm, where the main priority is calming it down.
**Animal Rights Charity Speaks Out**
The RSPCA released a statement regarding the “upsetting and distressing footage,” stating that it “urgently contacted” the police upon learning of the incident. They added, “All animals should be treated with respect. Together, we can create a better world for all animals.”
TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham posted on X: “I don’t know where to start with this. But it’s surely illegal and must be investigated and prosecuted. What sort of monster rams a calf? Twice?”
The matter has been referred to the police’s professional standards department, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been notified. A voluntary referral will be made in due course.
Chief Inspector Sam Adcock said: “I know this has caused distress, and I’d like to thank the community for their concern. The decision to use the police car was only taken after other methods to stop the cow had failed. There will be an investigation into the actions that led to this, but our focus is always on ensuring the public’s safety.”
Police have requested videos of the “distressing” incident to assist with the investigation.
