A police officer who tried to intercept a fleeing cow by ramming it with his service vehicle in the south of England, sparking strong indignation up to the Minister of the Interior, was punished, the police announced on Sunday .
The incident happened on Friday evening after Surrey Police were called to reports of a cow seen in a residential area of the small town of Staines-upon-Thames.
Images which have made the rounds on social networks and British media show a police car hitting the animal twice, which ends up with its head and upper body trapped under the vehicle.
This scene provoked a wave of criticism against the police and the Minister of the Interior, James Cleverly even reacted on X.
“I see no reasonable need for such action. I asked for urgent and complete explanations,” he said.
A “thorough and serious” investigation
On Sunday, the police announced that they had referred the matter to the local police, and had “removed from the field” the police officer involved pending the end of the investigation.
“I am fully aware of the distress caused by our handling of this incident and will ensure that it is investigated thoroughly and seriously,” said Deputy Chief Constable of Surrey Police Nev. Kemp, quoted in a press release.
On Saturday, police explained that after several unsuccessful attempts to capture the cow and taking into account “the safety of the public”, “the decision was made to arrest it using a car”.
The cow, ten months old and named “Beau Lucy”, injured in particular in one leg, was examined by a veterinarian and found its owner. The latter told the PA agency that she “is doing better”.