“No Charges for Police Officer Involved in Fatal eBike Crash”
A police officer, who was driving a van that followed two teenagers before their tragic deaths in an eBike accident in Cardiff, will not be prosecuted, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS stated that there was insufficient evidence to support a conviction. Malcolm McHaffie, head of the special crime division at CPS, announced that no criminal charges would be filed against the South Wales Police officer.
The passing of Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, resulted in unrest in Cardiff’s Ely suburb. The two friends were on an electric bike that crashed on Snowden Road around 6:00 pm on May 22, 2023. Following the incident, rumors spread on social media alleging that the boys were being pursued by the police before the crash. This led to a riot in Ely, with cars set on fire and police facing hostility from a crowd of 100 to 150 individuals. The disturbances lasted into the early hours, resulting in injuries to 15 officers and property being damaged.
The former Police and Crime Commissioner of South Wales, Alun Michael, initially denied claims that the teenagers were being followed by the police. However, CCTV footage later revealed that police were indeed trailing the boys shortly before the accident. In response, South Wales Police self-referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The IOPC issued the driver of the police van, along with another officer in the vehicle, with notices of gross misconduct.
The CPS also disclosed that an investigation was ongoing regarding potential dangerous driving by the police officer operating the van. Mr. McHaffie stated that after a thorough evaluation of the evidence, no criminal charges would be pursued against the officer due to insufficient evidence of a conviction. The CPS expressed understanding that this decision would be disappointing for the families of the boys and offered to meet with them to elaborate on their decision-making process.
David Ford, director of the IOPC, mentioned that the families were notified of the CPS referral after a comprehensive analysis of the evidence pointed to a potential criminal offense by the officer concerning their driving. The IOPC accepted the CPS’s decision and was in the process of determining potential disciplinary actions for the police van driver. Mr. Ford also informed that the IOPC was nearing completion of its second investigation into complaints from the families against South Wales Police.
The tragic deaths of these two best friends triggered a series of events that culminated in a riot, prompting scrutiny of police actions and responses.
