Police have been accused of "cowboyish and outrageous" behaviour for shooting a steer that ran out of control in Christchurch.

Police say they had to shoot the steer as it was out of control and a danger to the public, but one witness criticised the police actions.



The brown steer ran amok after escaping from a trailer on Suva St near the intersection with Hansons Lane, in Riccarton, about 5pm yesterday. It crashed through a fence and dented a police patrol car before it was herded onto the Riccarton High School sports grounds.



Police made the decision to shoot the animal about 5.40pm as they believed it could endanger people during rush hour.



One witness, who wished to remain anonymous, said police mishandled the situation.



"It was pretty outrageous. They decided that they could not contain the animal.



"The poor bugger was beside itself with fear.



"You have to shoot a cattle beast between the eyes really. After about five shots they killed the bugger. They had no idea. They were urban policemen with no idea about rural stock. They needed to let him calm down. It was cowboyish and outrageous."



It is understood the steer had just been bought and was being taken from the saleyards to a lifestyle block.



Acting sergeant Gordi Meyer said the animal was a danger to the public and could not be calmed. "There was no chance of getting it on a trailer and it was coming up to rush hour, so we did not want it back on the road. We made the decision to shoot it so it could not do any more damage or run into cars and people. It was a safety decision we made at the time," he said