Two police officers who followed boys on e-bikes before Cardiff crash served misconduct charges

Two police officers who followed two teenage boys on an electric bike before it crashed killing them both in Cardiff have been served with gross misconduct notices, the Independent Office for Police Conduct has revealed.

Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in May shortly after they were captured on CCTV being followed by a police van.

The crash sparked a riot in Ely which led to minor injuries and arrests.

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.”

The IOPC started its investigation last month following a referral from South Wales Police, after the CCTV footage came to light.

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Investigators are reviewing hundreds of video footage clips that we have been gathered as a result of house-to-house enquiries and leafleting properties in Ely.

The investigation is focused 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.”

Investigators have taken statements from local residents to secure evidence, the watchdog said.

“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.”

IOPC director David Ford called on anyone with information to come forward, directing the public towards the witness appeal boards.

“We would urge anyone who believes they have useful information to come forward to us. We have also met with local community leaders and elected officials to explain our role and the remit of our investigation.

“As our investigation continues to progress, I would like to reassure everyone that we are focused on establishing precisely what happened in the run up to the tragic incident. Our work will remain impartial and completely independent of the police.

The suggestion police had been pursuing the teenagers prior to their death spread on social media on the night of the crash and sparked hours of riots and disorder.

South Wales police said 17 males and three females, aged between 14 and 36, had been arrested on suspicion of riot.

All have since been released on police bail while an investigation continues.