Escaped cow run over by police car ‘to protect public’

Police officers have faced strong criticism after they knocked down and killed a loose cow using a patrol car “to protect public”.

Disturbing footage has emerged online of officers from Thames Valley Police ramming into the cow after it escaped from a farmer’s field.

The incident happened at about 7.40pm on Thursday 14 May on a road near the A329M in Wokingham, Berkshire.

See also: What farmers need to know about fencing and the law

In a statement, the police force said several attempts were made by both the police and the farmer to bring the cow under control after the bovine moved into a residential area of Woodley.

“The cow became increasingly distressed and charged at a member of the public, causing her minor injury, as well as causing injuries to an officer and damage to vehicles,” said the statement.

“Officers subsequently used a police vehicle to stop the cow and prevent it from charging towards other members of the public.”

The force said that “after all other options, including tranquilisation, were precluded, the cow was humanely euthanised at the scene by a private company”.

Thames Valley Police defended the actions of its officers, saying they were “necessary to limit the suffering of the animal” and to “prevent further injury and to ensure the safety of the public”.

The injured police officer has since been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.

The force added: “We understand that there are some distressing videos circulating on social media relating to this incident. However, we would like to reassure people that these measures were necessary and were only taken due to the need to protect the public, and were carried out in a way to minimise suffering to the animal.”

Police criticism

But Thames Valley Police has come under fire on its Facebook page.

Beef farmer Charlene Cannell commented: “That is not humane and if it was a farmer, we would be done for animal cruelty.

“What happened to having a trained marksman on the force and sedating it?”

She added: “You wonder what is wrong with society when the police do this. I have never been more ashamed by the British police force than I am right now. My six-year-old would have shown you a better way of dealing with the situation.”

Katie Woolliscroft wrote: “Absolutely vile. Whoever decided hitting the cow with the car was the right decision here was so, so wrong!

“Two decisions: catch the cow safely or shoot it. And I don’t believe they couldn’t contact a vet to shoot [sedate] it or an armed police person, if it was really charging at people.”