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| Thirsk slaughterhouse 'attacks' probed by FSA | Thirsk slaughterhouse 'attacks' probed by FSA |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| One man has been sacked and three others at a North Yorkshire slaughterhouse have had their operating licences suspended after hidden cameras filmed alleged mistreatment of animals. | |
| Footage captured by Animal Aid apparently shows sheep being kicked and punched at Bowood Lamb in Thirsk. | |
| The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has begun an investigation. | The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has begun an investigation. |
| It said there was "no excuse" for how the animals were treated, and said prosecutions could follow. | It said there was "no excuse" for how the animals were treated, and said prosecutions could follow. |
| The slaughterhouse is licensed to kill animals under the halal code, which states that animals are supposed to be killed quickly with a single sweep of a surgically-sharp knife. They should not see the knife before they are slaughtered, or witness the death of other animals. | The slaughterhouse is licensed to kill animals under the halal code, which states that animals are supposed to be killed quickly with a single sweep of a surgically-sharp knife. They should not see the knife before they are slaughtered, or witness the death of other animals. |
| The law requires abattoirs to stun animals before slaughter to prevent unnecessary suffering, but there are exemptions for Jewish and Muslim producers. | The law requires abattoirs to stun animals before slaughter to prevent unnecessary suffering, but there are exemptions for Jewish and Muslim producers. |
| Licences suspended | Licences suspended |
| Animal rights group Animal Aid recorded the footage with hidden cameras. | Animal rights group Animal Aid recorded the footage with hidden cameras. |
| An FSA spokesman confirmed that four slaughtermen had had their licences suspended, meaning they cannot operate as slaughtermen or work with live animals. | An FSA spokesman confirmed that four slaughtermen had had their licences suspended, meaning they cannot operate as slaughtermen or work with live animals. |
| The footage apparently shows: | The footage apparently shows: |
| More than 4,000 sheep were filmed being killed at Bowood over a three-day period in December. | More than 4,000 sheep were filmed being killed at Bowood over a three-day period in December. |
| Kate Fowler, head of campaigns at Animal Aid, said that "vicious attacks on defenceless, frightened animals are inexcusable". | Kate Fowler, head of campaigns at Animal Aid, said that "vicious attacks on defenceless, frightened animals are inexcusable". |
| Government-appointed vets are supposed to be on hand in all abattoirs the size of Bowood, but Animal Aid said none was seen during the three days of filming. | Government-appointed vets are supposed to be on hand in all abattoirs the size of Bowood, but Animal Aid said none was seen during the three days of filming. |
| Animal welfare | Animal welfare |
| The animal rights group is now calling for independently-monitored CCTV cameras to be compulsory at slaughterhouses. Animal Aid is the UK's largest animal rights group. | The animal rights group is now calling for independently-monitored CCTV cameras to be compulsory at slaughterhouses. Animal Aid is the UK's largest animal rights group. |
| The organisation, which was formed in 1977, has been involved in a number of campaigns including condemning the culling of deer at Sellafield and criticising the condition of Guernsey horse racing course. | |
| The FSA, which provides operating licences and carries out inspections for slaughterhouses in the UK, said it took animal welfare at abattoirs "very seriously, which is why we immediately suspended the licences of the slaughtermen involved". | The FSA, which provides operating licences and carries out inspections for slaughterhouses in the UK, said it took animal welfare at abattoirs "very seriously, which is why we immediately suspended the licences of the slaughtermen involved". |
| "There is no excuse for treating animals in the way shown on the video and we are therefore investigating the footage with a view to prosecution. | "There is no excuse for treating animals in the way shown on the video and we are therefore investigating the footage with a view to prosecution. |
| "We are also continuing to investigate all the circumstances around the incident to ensure proper safeguards are introduced to stop this happening in the future. | "We are also continuing to investigate all the circumstances around the incident to ensure proper safeguards are introduced to stop this happening in the future. |
| "When the FSA has finished investigating it will need to consider if there is sufficient evidence of a breach of animal welfare legislation to justify a referral to the Crown Prosecution Service, which would decide whether to prosecute or not." | "When the FSA has finished investigating it will need to consider if there is sufficient evidence of a breach of animal welfare legislation to justify a referral to the Crown Prosecution Service, which would decide whether to prosecute or not." |
| Jamie Foster, a solicitor speaking on behalf of Bowood Lamb, said the incidents were "hugely regrettable". | |
| He said that a picture of a slaughterman standing on the neck of a sheep "fell far below the standards that Bowood would find acceptable, and that individual was immediately dismissed for gross negligence". | |
| "But it isn't right that this is routine because Bowood is a company that takes animal welfare extremely seriously," said Mr Foster. | |
| The FSA said Bowood Lamb was still operating. |