Fury grows as shock footage shows police ramming escaped cow with squad car

15 June 2024, 17:12 | Updated: 15 June 2024, 23:15

Home Secretary calls for 'urgent investigation' after shock footage emerges of police ramming escaped cow
Home Secretary calls for 'urgent investigation' after shock footage emerges of police ramming escaped cow. Picture: Alamy

By Danielle de Wolfe

Fury is growing after footage appearing to show police ramming a loose cow with a squad car surfaced online.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

In the video, which was posted on social media on Saturday, appears to show a Surrey Police vehicle can be seen to slam into a cow that is standing on a residential street.

The stunned cow then gets to its feet again, before being rammed by the police car a second time.

Following the second hit, the cow remains on the ground, with officers exiting their vehicle in order to assess the situation.

After the footage surfaced, the Home Secretary took to social media to call for a formal investigation.

Posting to X, James Cleverly wrote: "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," the Home Secretary added.

Warning: Readers may find the footage below disturbing

The incident took place in Staines-upon-Thames, a market town in northwest Surrey, England, on Friday evening.

As part of the video, Bystanders can be heard reacting in shock and horror to the incident.

Following the emergence of the footage, Surrey Police issued a statement, with the force noting it responded to reports of a loose cow in Staines-upon-Thames at around 8.55pm on Friday evening.

The police note that the "cow was running loose throughout the evening on a number of main roads and during this time, we received numerous calls from the public reporting a car being damaged and it running at members of the public.

Read more: Pensioner urinating on train tracks killed by flying cow launched 100ft into the air by carriage

Read more: Teacher, 61, killed after being charged by cow three times and tossed over a gate in front of horrified family

"Given these reports, officers were extremely concerned about the public’s safety, and over a period of a number of hours tried a number of options to safely capture the cow.

"Unfortunately, these were unsuccessful, and the decision was made to stop it using a police car. This matter has been referred to our Professional Standards Department.

"The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been notified and a voluntary referral will be made in due course."

The cow was eventually moved to a nearby farm during the early hours of June 15, according to the force, assisted by a member of the public.

Following the news, a spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct has now said: “We have been notified by Surrey Police about this incident and that a referral will be made in due course.

"When we receive it we will carry out an assessment to determine what further action is required by us.”

Others who saw the clip online have also condemned the police's actions.

Chris Packham, the wildlife presenter and activist, said: "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?"

Another person said: "This was totally unnecessary and totally above the force needed relevant to the risk."

The video posted is under 30 seconds long, so may be missing context that informed the officers' actions.

Chief Inspector Adam Tatton said: “We know that this has caused some distress within the local community this evening, and I would like to reassure you that we are doing all we can to identify the owners and ensure the cow is seen as quickly as possible by a vet.

Surrey Police has issued a statement on the matter following the release of the footage, with the force noting it responded to reports of a loose cow in Staines-upon-Thames at around 8.55pm on Friday evening.
Surrey Police has issued a statement on the matter following the release of the footage, with the force noting it responded to reports of a loose cow in Staines-upon-Thames at around 8.55pm on Friday evening. Picture: X

“Our priority when responding to any incident is first and foremost the safety of the public. I would like to thank the community for their understanding this evening, and ask that they stay away from the park while officers are on scene.”

A similar incident, which took place in 2021, saw Thames Valley Police officers ram and kill a runaway cow in Berkshire.

The incident was not deemed to have met the criteria for a referral to an independent watchdog, and so was not investigated.

An IOPC spokesperson said at the time: “After carrying out a thorough assessment we determined that the information provided by Thames Valley Police did not meet the criteria for a referral to us and therefore the matter has been sent back to the force.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Fun runners cross Tower Bridge during the 2024 London Marathon in central London on April 21, 2024

London Marathon road closures: Everything you need to know about Sunday's race, as route changes revealed

People queue to visit the tomb of Pope Francis a day after his funeral, in Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome on April 27, 2025

First images of Pope's tomb published, as mourners visit 'simple' coffin after private ceremony following vast funeral

Who's running the London Marathon on Sunday?

Celebrities and MPs among London Marathon runners as record numbers gather at the start line

2,010 UK adults found the NHS was among the top concerns for the public.

Tough policies to transform health not viewed as ‘nanny-statism’, poll reveals

Vancouver police secure the scene after a car drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Several people killed 'in mass casualty event' after SUV slams into crowd at Vancouver street festival, as man arrested

Tired

A third of Britons say financial anxiety keeps them awake at night

Survey Indicates Scotland Have Different Views On Migration From Rest Of UK

Dodgy advisers posing illegally as immigration lawyers to face fresh crackdown under new bill

Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn: Fatal Fury - Fight Night

Chris Eubank Jr wins middleweight bout against Conor Benn

Police are at the scene of a "serious incident" near where the Otley Run pub crawl takes place in Leeds

Counter terror police take over investigation into 'serious incident' in Leeds after firearm and crossbow recovered

Ryan Reynolds co-owner of Wrexham celebrates the opening goal with wife Blake Lively

Wrexham promoted to Championship as Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively celebrate in stands

The reality TV star and campaigner, 30, has reportedly been dating Mr Stacey for less than a year

Love Island star Georgia Harrison announces she is expecting first child with partner Jack Stacey

Ismaila Sarr of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring a goal in the FA Cup semi final

Crystal Palace secure place in FA Cup final for third time after 3-0 victory over Aston Villa

Valerie the dachshund disappeared during a camping trip back in 2023

Miracle in the outback: Joy as mini dachshund found safe and well after spending 529 days alone in Australian wilderness

Palestinians inspect the damage after an Israeli army airstrike in Gaza City on Saturday

Ten dead - including children - after Israeli air strike flattens three-storey home in Gaza

Police remain in the area

Three injured after 'serious incident' in Leeds after 'man with weapons' arrested near popular pub crawl route

a british police car

Horror as 'human remains' found in wooded area in popular seaside town, with police 'searching abandoned caravan'