South Wales Police Refers Itself to Watchdog Following Deaths of Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans

South Wales Police are facing mounting scrutiny and public outrage after admitting to pursuing two teenagers on an e-bike shortly before they were killed in a crash on Monday evening in Cardiff. The deaths of Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, have triggered a wave of anger, with community tensions escalating into violent riots.

The teenagers were riding the e-bike together in the Ely area when the crash occurred just after 6pm. Eyewitnesses and CCTV footage later revealed that the boys were followed by a police van moments before the fatal crash, which took place on Snowden Road. The footage, time-stamped at 5:59pm, clearly shows the police vehicle trailing the e-bike on Frank Road, less than a mile away from where the boys later collided with a lamppost.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, social media rumors fueled accusations that the police had directly caused the crash. The unrest culminated in violent clashes between police officers and local residents, resulting in 15 officers being injured during the ensuing riots. In response to the growing public outcry, South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner blamed the violence on these rumors but faced further backlash as the CCTV footage surfaced.

During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Chief Superintendent Martyn Stone of South Wales Police confirmed the police force’s involvement and announced that the case had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for independent investigation. He emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability, stating, “We’ve received CCTV footage that shows a police vehicle following a bike just prior to 6pm. South Wales Police has also made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct to ensure the matter receives independent scrutiny.”

The tragic deaths of Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans have deeply shaken the local community, sparking both grief and anger over the circumstances surrounding the crash and the handling of the subsequent events by law enforcement.