Police officer won't be prosecuted over fatal e-bike crash in Cardiff that sparked riot

A police officer who was driving a van that followed two teenagers shortly before they died in an e-bike crash will not be prosecuted.

The deaths of Harvey Evans, 15, and Kyrees Sullivan, 16, sparked riots in the Ely area of Cardiff in May 2023.

The officer was facing a dangerous driving allegation, but prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.

A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) statement said: "We fully understand that this will be disappointing news for the families of both boys and will offer a meeting with them to explain our reasoning further."

Rumours on social media that the teenagers were being pursued by police were initially denied.

South Wales Police said none of its vehicles were in Snowden Road at the time of the crash.

But police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) later confirmed it was investigating after video appeared to show them being followed by a van - without blue lights or a siren - minutes before the incident.

Other footage, however, showed the van turn off, and it wasn't following the boys at the time of the collision.

A key factor under consideration was whether there was any point at which the actions of the officers in the van "constituted a pursuit".

Read more:
Timeline of events before fatal Cardiff crash

The driver and passenger of the marked police van were previously issued with gross misconduct notices.

IOPC director David Frost said his thoughts and sympathies remained with the boys' families and "all those affected by their untimely deaths".

"We are finalising our position over any potential disciplinary proceedings in relation to the driver of the police van and will provide a further update once final decisions have been made," he added.

A second investigation was also opened by the IOPC into issues including police management of the crash scene and treatment of the families and the watchdog says that probe is close to concluding.

A riot of several hours broke out after the boys' deaths, with cars set alight and fireworks and other missiles thrown at police.

Eleven officers needed hospital treatment and 31 people were eventually charged.

The decision not to charge the police officer driving the van can be challenged under the Victims' Right of Review Scheme.

(c) Sky News 2025: Police officer won't be prosecuted over fatal e-bike crash in Cardiff that sparked riot