VetSurgeon member Anthony Todd has started a petition amongst veterinary surgeons and nurses, calling for the installation and routine monitoring of CCTV in all pre-slaughter areas of licensed abattoirs in the UK.

The petition was triggered by a news report in the Daily Mail exposing shocking cruelty to pigs at an Essex slaughterhouse run by Cheale Meats. Staff were seen stubbing their cigarettes out on the pigs' faces, punching them and failing to stun the animals correctly, in undercover footage filmed by Animal Aid.

The Food Standards Agency, which is responsible for breaches of welfare at abattoirs, has refused to submit the footage to Defra for prosecution, on the basis that it was filmed illegally.

Anthony said: "Prosecution will automatically follow with legal video evidence.

"The exposure of the Cheale incident was fortuitous and may well be the tip of the iceberg which must be eliminated."

To sign the petition, please visit: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/abbatoir-abuse/

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