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No criminal charges will be brought against a police officer who drove a van following two teenagers before they were killed in an e-bike crash.
The deaths of Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, who were hit by a vehicle close to their homes in the suburb in May 2023, sparked huge riots in Ely, Cardiff.
The best friends died after a car crashed into them as they were riding an e-bike Harvey had bought for his 16th birthday – a day he would never celebrate.
Following their deaths, rumours exploded on social media that the boys had been chased by police before the crash.
South Wales Police initially denied any involvement in the deaths of the boys only for CCTV footage to emerge showing a police van following the boys’ Sur-Ron electric bike on Frank Road, about half a mile from Snowden Road where the crash took place.
South Wales Police later said they had been following the e-bike shortly before the crash and referred itself to the police watchdog.
They claimed the vehicle turned off onto a different road as the teens turned onto Snowden Road through bollards blocking the way for larger vehicles.
The officer driving the van, and another in the vehicle were then probed for gross misconduct over the alleged pursuit of the two teens.
But today the CPS announced there was insufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction.
On Monday, Malcolm McHaffie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime Division, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of the two teenagers following their tragic deaths in May 2023.
‘Following a thorough and detailed review of the evidence in relation to a single allegation of dangerous driving in this case, we have decided that no criminal charges will be brought against a South Wales Police officer.
‘We have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.
‘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.’
The CPS’ conclusion is subject to the Victim’s Right of Review (VRR) scheme.
This provides a victim or their families a process to review certain CPS decisions over prosecutions.
After the crash, tensions between local people and police at the scene led to a riot lasting several hours.
The clashes saw dozens of officers were injured and property was damaged.
Over 40 people were later charged over the alleged disorder.
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