Police Officer Faces Misconduct Hearing After Teens' Fatal E-Bike Crash

According to an independent investigation, a police officer in South Wales should face a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct following the tragic deaths of two teenagers in an e-bike crash last May. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found that the officer had a case to answer for providing inaccurate accounts to his colleagues after the collision, potentially breaching standards of honesty and integrity.

The IOPC's investigation also revealed that the officer's driving and language used at the collision scene may have been outside his level of training and authority, and contrary to police policies. This comes despite the Crown Prosecution Service's earlier decision not to bring criminal charges against the officer.

The incident occurred in Ely, Cardiff, when 16-year-old Kyrees Sullivan and 15-year-old Harvey Evans were involved in a fatal crash on their e-bike just minutes after being followed by a police van. The van was approximately half a mile away from the e-bike when the collision took place. Tensions between locals and police at the scene led to a riot that lasted several hours, during which dozens of officers were injured, property was damaged, and cars were set alight.

The IOPC's director, David Ford, expressed sympathy for the families of Kyrees and Harvey, acknowledging the deep impact their deaths have had on the local community. The watchdog's independent investigation examined the interactions between South Wales Police and the boys before the collision, as well as the accounts provided by officers at the scene and later to the investigation.

South Wales Police has cooperated fully with the IOPC investigation and provided relevant information, including CCTV footage and body-worn video. The force hopes that the outcome of the independent investigation and future inquest proceedings will provide answers to the many questions raised about this case.