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Horror new footage shows one of five times a calf was rammed by a police car before one witness claims officers radioed for an armed response to shoot the animal.

Shocking footage had emerged from Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, showing the vehicle viciously ramming into the runaway calf - called Beau Lucy - sending the animal flying.

In the latest video, the 10-month-old calf is seen standing in the headlights before it is struck down.

Angry onlookers can be heard screaming: "Oh my god, they just killed it, they just rammed it. That's f*****g animal cruelty. The poor bloody cow."

The video's circulation online sparked a huge-scale backlash against the police's response - including calls for a Home Office intervention - and while police took action to pull the officer responsible away from duties, the force stopped short of an apology.

During the video, another man can also be heard asking: "Why would you ram it like that?", to which an an officer replies: "To stop it killing someone".

A factory worker who stayed with the scared calf until it was safely transported into a horsebox claims officers radioed for an armed response to shoot the cow.

Surrey Police has initiated an internal investigation and has also reported the matter to the police complaints watchdog.

The driver of the vehicle who ran over the animal has also been removed from frontline duty.

It is believed the calf escaped a fenced moor and potentially swam across a river.

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The animal is now recovering after suffering cuts and grazes with a large gash on her leg.

However, its owner believes it could still die from shock.

The animal was struck five times, according to witnesses who saw a police 4x4 hit the cow "at about 30mph", sending him "ballistic".

"The police ­officer got back in the car, did a U-turn and ran it over again. Everyone was screaming, thinking it was dead," Kai Bennett told The Times.

"The cow ran into the park and the police asked me to lock one of the gates… It was just me and the calf for about two hours. I was keeping her calm.

"At one point we were in the playground. I heard on the police radio them calling for firearms officers, so I stayed with it and told them there's no way I was letting them shoot it."

Bennett said eventually two local men guided the calf into a horsebox using a rope.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: "This is upsetting and distressing footage. As soon as we were made aware, we urgently contacted the police to establish the background and to find out what happened to the calf. We are pleased to hear the calf survived and is receiving vet care.

"Surrey Police has referred themselves to their own professional standards department and to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. We support this as the action appears disproportionate to the situation. We are happy to assist in any investigations carried out.

"All animals should be treated with respect. Together, we can create a better world for all animals."

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