Between 2009 and 2017, Animal Aid placed fly-on-the-wall cameras inside thirteen UK slaughterhouses and found twelve of them were breaking animal welfare laws. The government appointed on-site vets did not prevent these breaches, many of which were extremely serious – including animals being punched, kicked in the head and burned with cigarettes. It is clear that better regulation is needed, starting with independently monitored CCTV cameras in all slaughterhouses.
Despite the widespread abuses, 141 of the current MPs stating their support for mandatory CCTV, the Farm Animal Welfare Committee reporting on its benefits, three political parties stating their support for it and the Defra Minister accepting that the cost of installation is ‘relatively modest’, the government has yet to make CCTV with independent monitoring of the footage compulsory. Those who would like to know how they can help this campaign should visit www.SlaughterhouseCCTV.org.uk.