The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that no charges will be brought against a South Wales police officer involved in the pursuit leading to the deaths of Harvey Evans, 15, and Kyrees Sullivan, 16, in Ely, Cardiff, on May 22, 2023. The announcement follows a detailed review of evidence related to a single allegation of dangerous driving against the officer whose police van was following the two teenagers on an electric bike.

Harvey and Kyrees died after crashing on a Sur-Ron bike shortly after CCTV footage captured the police van trailing them.

Their deaths sparked a night of violent unrest in the local community, resulting in injuries to 15 police officers and widespread property damage.

Protesters claimed they had gathered to honour the two boys prior to the clashes with law enforcement.

Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS special crime division, expressed condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and confirmed that the decision not to prosecute stemmed from an insufficient evidentiary basis to support a realistic prospect of conviction.

The CPS has offered to meet with the families to provide further clarification regarding their findings.

This decision is subject to the victims’ right of review (VRR) scheme, which allows families the opportunity to contest certain CPS decisions not to pursue prosecutions.

In relation to the pursuit, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) submitted a comprehensive file of evidence to the CPS regarding potential dangerous driving by the police van's driver.

David Ford, an IOPC director, acknowledged the profound impact of the boys' deaths on the local community and thanked the public for their patience throughout the investigative process.

The IOPC is nearing completion of its investigation into complaints from the families regarding their treatment at the incident scene and is expected to furnish an update on any potential disciplinary actions against the police officer involved.