Cardiff crash: two police officers served gross misconduct notices after fatal collision - what has IOPC said?

Two police officers have been served with a gross misconduct notice after two teenagers died following a collision in Cardiff.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed that the two police officers were the driver and passenger of a police van which was seen in CCTV footage following the two teenagers before the e-bike they were riding was involved in a collision. However, the IOPC that the serving of the notices did not mean that disciplinary proceedings would automatically begin, with an investigation under way.

Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in the Ely area of Cardiff while riding an electric bike. A vigil for the two young men was held on Friday (26 May) with balloons released in memory of them and floral tributes were left on the street where they died.

A video circulating on social media appeared to show a police vehicle following a bike being ridden by two people a few minutes before the fatal collision.

In a statement, the police watchdog said: “As part of our investigation, we have served gross misconduct notices on two police officers, the driver and passenger in a marked police van, which was seen on CCTV footage driving behind the boys’ electric bike a short time prior to the fatal collision on May 22.

“Such notices advise officers their conduct is subject to investigation. They do not necessarily mean that any disciplinary proceedings will follow. Our investigation began last month following a referral from South Wales Police, after relevant CCTV footage came to light.

“Investigators are reviewing hundreds of video footage clips that we have gathered as a result of our house-to-house enquiries and leafleting at properties in Ely. To ensure we identify and secure relevant evidence, we have followed up inquiries with, and taken statements from, some local residents.

“We have also set up witness appeal boards on relevant streets. In addition to these lines of inquiry, we have reviewed initial accounts and body-worn video from relevant police officers and staff. We are in regular contact with the families of Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans, who sadly lost their lives, to keep them updated on the progress of our investigation.

“Our investigation continues to focus on the nature of the police interaction with the two boys prior to the collision and the appropriateness of the officers’ decisions and actions. In particular, we are examining whether at any time the decisions and actions of the officers in the police vehicle constituted a pursuit. South Wales Police has continued to co-operate with our investigation.”

The family of one of the two teenagers whose deaths in a road collision sparked rioting over claims they were being pursued by police have pleaded for “peace within the community”, as they paid tribute to the two best friends.

Nine arrests have been made in connection with the disorder which began in the hours following the death of Kyrees and Harvey. The force said in a statement: “During the incident several vehicles were set alight, property was damaged, police officers were injured, and people were scared in their own homes.

As part of the investigation so far, over 180 pieces of body-worn footage from police officers at the scene has been recovered and officers are going through hundreds of hours of public CCTV and videos posted on social media.

“We are still appealing for witnesses, information, and footage from mobile phones. CCTV and social media. We are extremely grateful for the support from the community so far and urge anyone with information to contact us.”

South Wales Police said the collision had already happened when the first officers arrived on the scene in Snowden Road. Tensions rose and spilled over into rioting which saw missiles and fireworks thrown at the police and cars set alight.

In a statement released by South Wales Police, Harvey’s family said: “Our hearts are truly broken by the sudden death of Harvey, our much-loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, friend and boyfriend.

“He lived life to the full, he had a big heart and deep down he truly cared. He was a best friend to Kyrees and our thoughts and prayers are with his family also," they continued. “We ask for peace within the community and request that people leave the investigation to the police so we can get the answers we so desperately need to lay Harvey to rest."

Harvey’s mum added: "I want to remember our son as the fun and loving son that he was, and not as the media are portraying him now.”

Kyrees’s family also paid tribute and thanked the local community for their support since his death. “Kyrees was a loving, caring handsome young man, a loving son to Belinda and Craig, little brother to Aleah and Jordan and a special uncle KyKy to Myra."

“Him and Harvey along with Niall were best friends since they were young and went everywhere together, they both had so many friends and were very well liked doing many things together, having fun and laughs," they said. “They were loved by not only their families but by their community as well."

“Belinda, Craig and families, would like to thank everyone for all their kind words, flowers, and messages since they lost their son.”

At Friday's vigil, blue and orange flare were lit for the two teenagers as well as balloons released into the air, with some in the crowd in tears as they remembered Kyrees and Harvey. The families of both boys are said to have requested that no Sur-Ron bikes were brought to the vigil, as well as reportedly asking for no police presence.

Police said they were continuing to investigate the collision and were appealing for witnesses, information, CCTV and footage from mobile phones and social media. Alun Michael, the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales, said he had been “assured and I am still assured youths were not being chased by the police at the time of the road traffic accident”.

Authorities said the collision had already occurred when officers arrived, and they remained on the scene to manage “large-scale disorder” until the early hours of Tuesday morning. However, CCTV footage shows what appears to be a police van following two people on an electric bike shortly before 6pm - just 900 metres away and minutes before the fatal crash.

The South Wales force said the video clip – taken from a nearby house’s CCTV cameras – would form part of its investigation but insisted there were no police vehicles on Snowden Road at the time of the crash.

The watchdog confirmed that it was investigating several moments leading up, during and in the aftermath of the incident. It said that it was focusing on the circumstances surrounding the police interaction with the two boys prior to the collision, whether a pursuit took place in the lead up to the crash and whether the interaction between the police officers and the boys was reported appropriately before and after the collision. The investigation will also look into whether the actions and decisions of South Wales Police over the interaction were in line with legislation, local and national policies and procedures.

In the crash’s aftermath, Michael gave interviews in which he said there were “rumours” of a police chase, “which wasn’t the case”.

On Wednesday, he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “Information emerged after we had done the interview which has to be investigated, and the question has to be asked of whether there is a connection between earlier events and the road traffic accident itself. We have to look at the facts of what actually happened on Monday. I am assured and I am still assured youths were not being chased by the police at the time of the road traffic accident.

“The road traffic accident is being carefully investigated but there wasn’t a police vehicle in the road where and when the actual accident happened. The impression that was given was that of youngsters being chased by the police and an accident happened, an immediate one to the other.

“That, I am still assured, is not what happened, but information emerged of the vehicle and the youngsters in the same street, a different street, shortly before the event. That of course then comes into something that should be investigated.”

It was put to Michael that this leaves open the possibility of a pursuit and he replied: “It leaves open the possibility. I was assured there was not… police chasing the individuals at the time the accident happened. That there may have been something earlier is of course something that should be fully investigated.”

Specially trained public order officers were deployed, including officers from neighbouring police forces, as several vehicles were set alight, property was damaged and officers were hurt.

Scenes being livestreamed on YouTube showed young people throwing fireworks and other missiles at a line of police officers with riot shields who were blocking one end of the street.

Police said arrests were made after the disorder, which left 15 officers requiring medical attention – 11 of which were treated in hospital.

At about midnight, Belinda Sullivan, Kyrees’s mother, pleaded on Facebook with the rioters to stop because her son’s body remained at the scene of the crash.

Friends of the two boys killed in the crash, who were from the Ely area, said they were riding a Sur-Ron electric bike without helmets when they died. They said their families were desperate for further information from the police about what happened.