IOPC probes police conduct in Cardiff e-bike crash that killed teens
An investigation into the conduct of two police officers is underway following the tragic deaths of two teenagers in a Cardiff e-bike accident that sparked riots. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has issued gross misconduct notices to both the driver and passenger of a police van seen in the vicinity of the boys in the Ely area prior to the crash. The teenagers, Kyrees Sullivan, 16 years old, and Harvey Evans, 15 years old, died in the accident on May 22. It should be noted that the issuance of notices does not guarantee that the officers will face disciplinary action, and they have not been suspended, according to South Wales Police.
The IOPC investigation is primarily concerned with the nature of the interaction between the police officers and the two boys before the accident, as well as the appropriateness of the officers’ decisions and actions. Specifically, the police watchdog is probing whether the officers in the police vehicle were pursuing the boys. The night of the crash saw riots erupt in Ely, with 100 to 150 people gathering, setting cars on fire, and hurling fireworks at the police. Fifteen officers were injured during the unrest, and 20 arrests have been made so far.
South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael initially claimed that the two teenagers were not being chased by police before their deaths. However, CCTV footage analysed by BBC Verify revealed that police were following the boys just minutes before the crash occurred. The police force later confirmed that its officers had indeed been trailing the teenagers prior to their deaths.
The IOPC stated that investigators are currently reviewing hundreds of video footage clips, as well as initial accounts and body-worn video from police officers and staff. In the days following the crash, Harvey’s mother paid tribute to her son, saying, “He lived life to the full, he had a big heart and deep down he truly cared.” Kyrees’s family remembered him as “a loving, caring handsome young man.”
