Two police officers who followed two teenage boys killed in a crash in Cardiff have been served with gross misconduct notices, the Independent Office for Police Conduct said.

The officers were in a marked van and had followed Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, on an electric bike before it crashed on Snowden Road.

South Wales Police had referred itself to its watchdog after the boys were captured on CCTV being followed by a police van.

In a statement, the Independent Office for Police Conduct said: “As part of our investigation, we have served gross misconduct notices on two police officers, the driver and passenger in a marked police van, which was seen on CCTV footage driving behind the boys’ electric bike a short time prior to the fatal collision on May 22.

“Such notices advise officers their conduct is subject to investigation. They do not necessarily mean that any disciplinary proceedings will follow.”

The watchdog said investigators were reviewing “hundreds of video footage clips” that have been gathered as a result of house-to-house enquiries and leafleting at properties in the Ely area of the city.

“To ensure we identify and secure relevant evidence, we have followed up inquiries with, and taken statements from, some local residents,” the IOPC said.

“We have also set up witness appeal boards on relevant streets. In addition to these lines of inquiry, we have reviewed initial accounts and body-worn video from relevant police officers and staff.

“Our investigation continues to focus on the nature of the police interaction with the two boys prior to the collision and the appropriateness of the officers’ decisions and actions.

“In particular, we are examining whether at any time the decisions and actions of the officers in the police vehicle constituted a pursuit. South Wales Police has continued to co-operate with our investigation.”

The watchdog added it was in regular contact with the boys’ families to keep them updated on the progress of the investigation.

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