Cow rammed by police

[Labtastic]

I am absolutely gobsmacked by this - Surrey Police ramming an escaped cow to the ground and then trapping it under their car - what in the name of actual fuck were they thinking? It looks to be a young cow too. Just horrifying. (The video is distressing so watch with caution)

https://x.com/ub1ub2/status/1801939257054859521?s=46&t=Pfjp_stFUzJzWEsZJQFxng

I agree.

I have no intention of watching the video but fail to understand why they didn’t get a vet with a tranquilliser gun or even just a gun if it was that dangerous . I seriously worry about the mentality of someone who can ram twice into an animal with a car and I’m not sure that is someone who I want as a police person .

Get a bucket of nuts, shake at calf, calf will come get them. Get someone to put a harness on it while it’s eating. It’s not rocket science. Dreadful video and to see people here justifying it is outrageous.

I'm in no way defending the police but surely the farmer or someone else would have spoken up if that was the case

Time was off the essence what would you of done that cow could of bolted at any moment into causing a serious accident

I doubt the cow would of listened if you asked it to wait for a vet or farmer to arrive

do you have any idea how dangerous an out of control wild animal can be cows have crushed and killed people

I presume the police carry nuts and a harness

It was a calf on a side road, not a bull charging through a pedestrian area.

The car hitting it and sending it flying through the air would have done more damage to people.

Even the other police officers blocking off the road seemed shocked by what happened.

Except ….nothing like that was happening here.

Let’s see what the coming days/weeks bring. Someone may yet speak up, but there are a variety of reasons why they may not, even if the animal has more injuries or needs to be euthanised.

Nonsense.

1. drivers should be aware of obstacles in the road when driving. In that urban area no one should have been driving fast enough that they couldn’t see flashing blue lights from a police car and also the animal
2. It takes 2 mins to call an out of hours vet to come.
3. the calf could easily have been stopped with food or a blockade. where I come from a ten year old waving his hands and shouting ‘go on’ can stop a cow coming towards them. Surely several grown police with cars to assist could manage it if they had half a brain cell between them.

Ignorant bastards.
I know heffers can be dangerous, but there was absolutely no need to ram it the second time. As soon as it was down (and clearly injured) it should have been blindfolded (this would keep it calmer and reduce flight/ fight) blindfolding can be done with a jumper or any scrap of fabric and I'm sure one of the onlookers would have obliged. Then a rope or lead popped over its neck and gently talked too until a vet arrived. (Ideally a halter easily fashioned from a belt or rope or even police caution tape), but I get not everyone would have the ability to make a halter....although it really isn't difficult.)
And bullocks (pun intended!) was it just an injured leg, I very much doubt it will survive.

I'm usually on the side of defending the Police. They have a lot of difficult decisions to make with only a short time to act. However, this footage has shocked me. It was a horrible thing to do and I can't defend it at all.

Staines isn't rural. I imagine the majority of the Police there have no experience at all with any farm animals. They're treating this poor calf like it's a car being driven by joyriders rather than a living animal.

A local vet, a farmer (there must be one because someone owns the cow), a taser, the Fire Brigade (although they've been cut to the absolute bone in Surrey), even an experienced horse rider who knows about large animals. All people who could have been contacted for help but weren't. The chase started at around 9pm. Not that late to seek specialist help.

The streets were pretty empty anyway apart from one guy who was (presumably) trying to catch it.

More chance of being hit by a calf flying through the air than being charged/crushed/stampeded to death.

I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of this place you go to purchase things? It’s called a shop. There is this little known concept called supply and demand you see and when there is a farm or farming land nearby these shops that cater to animals tend to be there too. So what happens is you get your phone. You google animal food supply and then you drive there in your car to get the stuff while other police officers follow the calf with flashing lights on to alert others.

Oh ok, so the solution is to run it over? Seems fine that...

@rwalker yet those in rural areas don't have multiple serious accidents with escaped animals. Buy a decent car as shown by the fact the police car isn't damaged hitting a calf at 30mph isn't going to cause you serious injuries neither is hitting another car!!

What they did is disgusting. The cow wasn't even moving. They could have used their car to nudge it along into a corner or somewhere suitable. If it had been running round already for hours, it would be exhausted and not likely to have much fight left in it. Instead, the police car stops for a moment and then speeds towards it, knocking it over. I'm so glad there's a massive outcry about this.

What type of person could do this?? I can't bring myself to watch the video at all - that poor calf. The anger I feel is indescribable and wonder what kind of people we have in our Police Force these days. I strongly hope they are held accountable. The Home Secretary has already said a full investigation needs to take place. Absolutely shocking.

My husband is a Police Officer and he is horrified by this and very angry.

My post seems sweeping I realise. I also have Police friends who are horrified. People with this level of empathy should not be serving though imo

Absolute shocking decision from the police today but fucking hell- that's such an extreme statement. Please never ring them when in need because if they're that bad, you won't ever want them to come to your aid will you.

That poor animal skidded the length of three cars on its side after the impact before they 'restrained' it by pinning it with the chair

There is no fucking way it has escaped with a cut leg

@Rubydooby45 I agree with you, those responsible need to be held fully accountable for this unforgivable behaviour

Four or five people corner the calf in a garden/against a wall.

One approaches slowly with food/water. Another ties a rope round its neck.

Someone stays with calf keeping it calm/fed. Another rings any nearby farmer to come and get it.

What you don't do is park a car on it and cause huge pain and distress. Fucking morons.

The driver isn't necessarily the one making the decision on what to do tbf! If it's been going on for several hours, it's likely a decision being forced by superiors