The day when slaughterhouses will be compelled to fit independently-monitored CCTV cameras has moved a step closer this week, as Jim Cunningham became the hundredth MP to have signed a parliamentary motion in support of the move.
Early Day Motion 153 was tabled by Easington MP Grahame Morris and now has the support of MPs from across the political spectrum. The campaign is also supported by more than half of all Welsh Assembly Members.
The campaign for mandatory CCTV with independent monitoring of the footage seems to be widely supported. As well as the public showing their support via a YouGov poll and a Number 10 petition, it has the backing of the union representing meat hygiene inspectors and slaughterhouse vets, UNISON; vets including Emma Milne, Pete Wedderburn and Marc Abraham; animal protection groups such as the RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming; as well as MPs from across the political spectrum.
The ten leading supermarkets, along with Booker and Freedom Food, all insist that their slaughterhouse suppliers have CCTV cameras fitted but the footage is not yet monitored thoroughly by an independent body that can take robust action should welfare breaches be revealed.
Of those campaigning for this cause, Animal Aid's Slaughter Consultant, Kate Fowler states: ‘There is no excuse for the savagery we filmed inside slaughterhouses, and yet it went on right under the noses of vets who are stationed there to monitor welfare. Currently, taxpayers are charged millions of pounds every year for a welfare system that is failing animals. Clearly, things must change. We need a more robust system, and CCTV - if independently monitored - can play an important part in deterring and detecting welfare breaches. We are very grateful for the support of these compassionate MPs, who can see that action must be taken to hold the industry properly to account.'
