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KEY WITNESSES NOT APPROACHED BY POLICE AHEAD OF THEM DECIDING TO DROP CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO CRUELTY TOWARDS CALF
In June a calf was repeatedly hit by a police car, which caused public outrage
Legal team consider strong evidence of potential cruelty offences
Police tasked with investigating the potential offence committed in their own ranks
In November the police drop the investigation
Key witnesses were not approached by the police
On 15 June 2024, the nation was shocked at the police’s treatment of the young animal named Beau Lucy. Footage can be seen of the small cow being deliberately and repeatedly rammed by a police car with members of the Staines-upon-Thames community audibly distressed during the incident. Causing unnecessary suffering to farmed animals is against the law.
Following the public outcry, The incident resulted in a voluntary referral to the IPOC, just 3 days later the IOPC has decided it does not need to investigate and has handed it back to Surrey Police to conduct its own investigation against the individual involved.
The decision to refer the matter back to the same body that oversaw the incident and individual was greeted by disappointment and concern by animal charities and on 29 November 2024 it was reported that the police had cleared the individual of wrongdoing and that “the tactics adopted were both lawful and necessary to prevent harm to the public and property”.
The assertion that driving a car into a young animal was necessary is strongly disputed by animal charity The Humane Society International, which argues alternative methods were available and as such the suffering caused to the calf were wholly unnecessary, which is illegal.
Key eyewitnesses from the night, one of which who was the only person with the calf before the police arrived, have described that the cow was calm before the police arrived and that the police did not try any other means of containment before ramming her. These key witnesses have also confirmed that they were not approached by the police.
Quotes
“The integrity of the police investigation is called into question when arguably the most important witness, the individual with the calf before the police arrived, have not been approached or interviewed by the police ahead of them dropping their investigation. This case involves the welfare of a sentient animal, potential criminal wrongdoing and had huge public interest, but did not receive proper consideration. Edie Bowles, Solicitor, Advocates for Animals, representing Humane Society International UK “Animal law matters; the alternative is that the passing of these laws by Parliament is performative.”
Data from The Animal Law Foundation has revealed that just 0.89% of complaints involving the welfare of farmed animals resulted in a prosecution between 2022 and 2023.
“I was asked to review a dossier of compelling evidence gathered by HSI in the days following the incident. I have to say that if a charity was able to gather that volume of concerning evidence within a few days, then I’m very surprised that the police - with all their investigative powers - failed to build a viable case in the months that followed. The decision not to speak to the key civilian witness smacks of closing ranks and wilful blindness.” Sam March, Barrister, 9KBW
Getting advice
This post is not legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you require legal advice on animal protection laws please contact info@advocates-for-animals.com.
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