Police officer 'has case to answer' over account of e-bike deaths

Kyrees Sullivan (left), 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in an e-bike crash in Ely in May 2023

A police officer who was driving a van behind two teenagers who died in an e-bike crash in Cardiff has a case to answer for gross misconduct, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has found.

Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died after the bike they were riding crashed on Snowden Road in the Ely area of the city in May 2023.

The IOPC investigation concluded the officer should face a hearing over "the accuracy of accounts he provided to colleagues" and potential "inconsistencies and evidential conflicts".

South Wales Police said it had "fully cooperated" with the IOPC investigation and hoped the hearing outcome would "provide answers to the many questions".

It added the case would be considered at a misconduct hearing in due course.

IOPC investigators said there was no indication of contact between the teenagers and the police vehicle, which was about half a mile away from the bike.

But they concluded the officer also had a misconduct case to answer regarding his driving and the language he used in relation to the boys at the scene of the crash.

They said they believed a police disciplinary panel "could find that his driving at the time was outside his level of training and authority", contrary to professional practice and the force's policy, and that "there may be inconsistencies and evidential conflicts in the information given by the officer which potentially breach police standards of honesty and integrity".

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had previously announced there was "insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction" against the police officer and the boys' families have exercised their right under the Victims' Right to Review to challenge this decision.

CCTV showed a police van driving behind the teenagers earlier in the evening. It was approximately half a mile away from the e-bike, on a different road, at the time of the crash.

The fatal incident sparked widespread unrest in the area, with riots breaking out, leaving 31 police officers injured, property damaged and cars torched.

In total, more than 40 people have been charged in connection with these riots.

David Ford, IOPC director, said: "Our thoughts and sympathies continue to be with the families of Kyrees and Harvey and everyone affected by the loss of such young lives. We know the boys' deaths have had a deep impact on the local community.

"Our role when someone dies following police contact is to examine all the circumstances surrounding that incident.

"Our independent investigation looked at the interactions South Wales Police had with the boys before the collision, plus accounts provided by officers at the scene and later to our investigation.

"After a thorough review of that evidence... we have determined an officer should face disciplinary proceedings. It will be for a police disciplinary panel to determine whether the allegations are proven."

Mr Ford added a second investigation into family complaints against South Wales Police was also "close to concluding".

The teenagers' deaths sparked widespread unrest in the area, which led to property and vehicles being damaged and more than 40 people charged

Assistant Chief Constable of South Wales Police, Simon Belcher, said the force "made a mandatory referral" to the IOPC after the crash, "to ensure the matter received independent scrutiny".

He added: "The force has fully cooperated with the IOPC investigation and provided information and material, including CCTV footage and body-worn video.

"We hope that the outcome of the independent investigation and future inquest proceedings will provide answers to the many questions which have been raised about this case.

"Our thoughts, as ever, are with the families and friends of Harvey and Kyrees and all those affected by their deaths."

A spokesperson for the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales, Labour's Emma Wools, said it would "carefully consider the detail of the IOPC's report into Ely".

"We know and understand the depth of feeling within the community and the PCC is entirely committed to ensuring lessons are learnt from this report."