A dramatic scene unfolded in Staines-upon-Thames, in northwest Surrey, England on Friday as a police officer used his vehicle to ram a wayward cow that had escaped and was causing chaos in the town. Footage of the incident has sparked widespread shock and concern among social media users.
The police force had received reports that the cow was roaming freely, damaging cars and posing a risk to public safety. Despite efforts to safely capture the animal, the officers were unsuccessful and were forced to take more drastic action.
The officer involved drove his vehicle into the cow twice, eventually pinning it under the front of the car. The cow sustained injuries, including a large cut to its leg, which will be treated by a veterinarian.
The incident has been referred to the Professional Standards Department for review and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been notified. Chief Inspector Sam Adcock has acknowledged that the decision to use the police car was taken after other methods to stop the cow had failed.
The chief inspector stressed that the safety of the public is always the top priority and an investigation will be conducted into the actions that led to the incident. He also appealed to the public to refrain from sharing distressing footage of the incident, instead submitting any relevant videos directly to the police force to aid their investigation.
