CCTV In Welsh Slaughterhouses - RSPCA
Time for change in Welsh slaughterhouses
In 2023 the Welsh Government held a consultation on the introduction of mandatory CCTV in all slaughterhouses in Wales. Making CCTV compulsory in abattoirs helps to protect and safeguard the welfare of animals at the time of slaughter. With thanks to an overwhelming supporter response regulations for mandatory CCTV have now been passed in the Senedd and came into force on June 1st.
CCTV will improve animal welfare
As a long-awaited change for animals, we support the introduction of mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses across Wales. CCTV not only protects those animals being slaughtered from possible mistreatment but also the staff working there from potentially unfounded allegations of abuse.
What will change?
The introduction of CCTV will:
- Provide the public with evidence of compliance with the law at the time of slaughter
- Act as a deterrent to animal cruelty
- Act as a safeguard and training tool for abattoir staff
- Provide more opportunities to assess compliance and protect animals
- Improve enforcement on sites not cooperating with standards
- Bring Wales in line with England, which introduced mandatory CCTV in 2018
The public wants better for animals
Unsurprisingly, polling has indicated that a huge 82%* of the public in Wales supports the introduction of CCTV. It is clear that we are not alone in the belief that this is an important step in improving farm animal welfare.
Thousands of you supported our campaign
Thank you for supporting the consultation for mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses in Wales. This action is now closed. Over 15,000 of you made your voices heard and stood up for animal welfare.
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*Polling figure from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,001 Welsh adults (ages 18+) Fieldwork was undertaken between 4th-8th September 2014. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Welsh adults (ages 18+)