Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Labour MP, Tom Blenkinsop, has today supported calls for CCTV cameras to be installed in slaughterhouses as a matter of animal welfare.

This follows recent distressing events of animal cruelty being uncovered at an abattoir in Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

Tom said: “This measure should apply to all slaughterhouses in the UK, including local ones such as the one now operating in my constituency at Boosbeck. These units are, at present, under a regime that allows vets to make lightning unannounced policing visits, but vets cannot be everywhere at once and as a result some cruel and poor practice has happened un-noticed.

“To install such sealed CCTV units would not be costly and responsible managers should not have any cause for concern. It would only be those who turn a blind eye to poor practice who should worry. The incidents in Thirsk clearly demonstrate that cruel practices do happen, and they had clearly been missed by any inspections by the vets.

“I will be writing to agriculture minister George Eustice, who has just received a report on the possibility of CCTV in slaughterhouses by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee, to urge positive action on this matter.”


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