Cow rammed by police in outrage-struck viral video will 'limp for the rest of her life'

September 20, 2024, 09:26 am | Updated: September 20, 2024, 09:30 am

A calf hit by a Surrey Police vehicle in June is still injured 100 days after the incident, LBC has revealed.

The calf's owner, a farmer who wished to remain anonymous, told LBC the animal was “still injured and limping” and said experts had told him it would likely “limp for the rest of its life”.

LBC has learned that the cow, which was traumatised by the collision with the police car, will be kept alive and not sent to slaughter.

Beau Lucy, from a farm in Surrey, escaped on June 14 and is said to have been on the run for “several hours.”

After reportedly running through several towns in Surrey, the cow was eventually hit by a police car in Staines upon Thames, sparking an investigation.

Footage of the incident went viral and sparked outrage. Sir Keir Starmer told LBC he was “genuinely shocked by the footage”, adding that he “completely agrees with the LBC listeners who have expressed their concern and I think the rest of the country feels the same”.

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Leading animal psychologist Dr Roger Mugford, who visited Beau Lucy calf, told LBC: “I am pleased to report that Beau Lucy is doing well. She is a pure Aberdeen Angus cow so is all black. She still has a limp but she is eating well and is with the herd.

“He was suffering from very severe joint problems, so it could have been worse”

Dr Mugford added: “Cows are herd animals so it is vital that she is back with her own kind. Beau was alone in Staines, separated, she was terrified, but cows are very resilient.”

“It’s not a happy ending, but fortunately the animal is making progress”

But nearly 100 days after the incident, police confirmed that the investigation was still “ongoing” and could not give “a timeframe” for the process, which is being led by Surrey Police's Major Crime Team and Sussex Police.

Two months ago, LBC said officers had visited 500 buildings, contacted 75 witnesses and obtained 250 video clips as part of their investigation. Police also said they had received more than 20,000 messages on social media and 2,000 complaints from the public.

LBC understands that the officer is still being prevented from carrying out his front-line duties.

In a statement, Surrey Police told LBC: “Our investigation into the events leading to the injury to a cow in Staines-upon-Thames in the early hours of 15 June is ongoing. It is being investigated as a criminal matter and as a case of internal misconduct.”

“The cow Beau Lucy, who is still in the care of her owner, is believed to have been at large from approximately 9pm on June 14, 2024, to approximately 12.30am on June 15, 2024. We are currently conducting investigations to fully understand what happened during this time.”

“The investigation, led by our Professional Standards Unit and overseen by a senior investigating officer from Surrey Police and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, is ongoing and making good progress. As part of our investigation, the investigation team has carried out approximately 290 home visits and distributed a further 210 leaflets along the route. In addition, 75 witnesses have been contacted and over 250 video clips have been submitted by members of the public. All of this information is currently being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.”

Nev Kemp, Surrey's deputy chief constable, told LBC: “A thorough investigation is important as it ensures that all potential crimes and cases of misconduct are clearly identified. This obviously takes time.”

“Since the incident, we have received over 20,000 messages on social media and 2,000 complaints from the public, underscoring the intensity of feelings surrounding this case. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to conduct a thorough investigation so that we can provide answers to Beau Lucy's owner and the public as to how this incident occurred and the events leading up to it. We remain committed to providing important updates on this incident on our website as soon as we have them.”