A video circulating has caused outcry on social media, after police in London rammed and ran over a cow.
The video taken in Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, shows the police car viciously ramming into the runaway calf - called Beau - sending the animal flying.
As the bovine is struggling to regain its footing, the police vehicle rams it again and runs it over, coming to a stop on top of the calf.
Officers are seen exiting the car and ordering the public to stand back, as concerned pedestrians rush over to the distressed animal.
The calf named Beau was rammed by a police car
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Social media users were quick to voice their outrage, with one writing: "For real, this could have been done safely. No need to be brutal like that. What a joke."
A second commented: "No joke! Poor defenseless gentle animal, lost. Stupid, uneducated, call themselves police? I hope they suffer for this mindless cowardly act. Only powerful behind the wheel of a car!"
A third added: "And police wonder why they have a bad reputation…"
Home Secretary, James Cleverly, also took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to call for a "full, urgent explanation", after seeing the video.
He wrote: "I can think of no reasonable need for this action. I've asked for a full, urgent explanation for this. It appears to be unnecessarily heavy handed."
Animal Rising also released a statement following the circulation of the video, with Dan Kidby, Co-Founder and Co-Director, saying: "The video of police running over Beau not once, but twice, has horrified the nation.
"There is absolutely no excuse for treating any animal like this and we’re calling for their urgent rehoming in sanctuary.
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The cow was taken to a vet following the incident
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"Beau deserves to live out the rest of their life in peace, not end up - yet another - victim of farming animals.
"We’re calling on the animal-loving British public to step up and make their voices heard by signing our petition and demanding that the Surrey Police release Beau into capable hands.
"Like all animals in the farming industry, Beau just wants freedom, safety, and a loving home - we are ready to provide that at a moment’s notice.”
A Surrey Police spokesperson said: "Yesterday evening (14 June), at around 8:55pm, we received reports that a cow was running loose in Staines-upon-Thames.
"The cow was running loose throughout the evening on a number of main roads and during this time, we received numerous calls from the public reporting a car being damaged and it running at members of the public.
"Given these reports, officers were extremely concerned about the public’s safety, and over a period of a number of hours tried a number of options to safely capture the cow.
"Unfortunately, these were unsuccessful, and the decision was made to stop it using a police car. This matter has been referred to our Professional Standards Department.
"The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been notified and a voluntary referral will be made in due course.
"With support from a member of the public, the cow was moved to a nearby farm in the early hours of this morning (June 15).
"The owner has been located and the cow’s injuries have been assessed by a vet. The cow sustained a large cut to its leg, and the vet is overseeing its continued treatment and recovery."
Chief Inspector Sam Adcock said: “I know that this has caused distress and I’d like to thank the community for their concern.
"The decision to use the police car is one that was only taken after other methods to stop the cow had failed.
"There will be an investigation into the actions that led to this, but our focus at all times is on ensuring the safety of the public.
“I know there are videos circulating of this incident, which the public may find distressing. I would ask that these videos are sent directly to us to help with our investigation.”
