Ely riots: no criminal charges for officer involved in e-bike chase

Local TV

The deaths of two teenage boys in 2023 sparked intense rioting in the streets of Ely, with properties damaged, cars set alight and a number of police officers injured. The boys were killed after being caught on CCTV riding an e-bike, followed by a police van. The CPS has said that the officer driving the van will not face criminal charges.

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00:00No criminal charges will be brought against the police officer who was following two teenagers

00:08on an e-bike shortly before they were killed in a crash in Cardiff in 2023. 15-year-old Harvey

00:13Evans and 16-year-old Kyrie Sullivan died on May 22nd after crashing while riding an e-bike in the

00:19Ely area just minutes after CCTV showed a police van following them through nearby streets.

00:25Their deaths led to a major riot in the community, tensions quickly escalating with

00:29dozens of police officers injured, vehicles set on fire, and widespread damage caused to property

00:35during several hours of unrest. Now after a lengthy investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service

00:40says the police officer driving the police van will not face prosecution.

00:44Malcolm McAfee, head of CPS Special Crime Division, said following a thorough and detailed review of

00:50the evidence, they've decided that no criminal charges will be brought, as there is insufficient

00:54evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. He added that the CPS

00:59recognises the decision will be deeply disappointing for the families of both boys and that a meeting

01:04will be offered to explain the decision further. The case has attracted national attention, with the

01:10families of Kyrie and Harvey consistently calling for answers, questioning how and why the police

01:15were following the boys and how the situation was handled.

01:20The Independent Office of Police Conduct has been conducting a separate investigation into the events

01:25of that day, including whether the police officers followed correct procedures. Their final report

01:30is still yet to be released. But for now, the CPS says its decision has been made based solely on the

01:35available evidence, even as questions from the community remain.

01:38James P. Watkins, reporting for Local TV.

01:40James P. Watkins, reporting for Local TV.

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