Michael Gove has announced that new legislation will be introduced in England

A further call has been made for CCTV to be fitted in Scottish slaughterhouses.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced plans for CCTV to be fitted in all of England’s abattoirs.

The move has sparked further questions over similar legislation in Scotland.

A resolution in support of mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses was passed by the SNP at their party conference last year, however TFN reported last month that campaigners said little progress has been made since then.

OneKind director Harry Huyton praised the work of counterparts Animal Aid in England, and stressed the importance of similar legislation being introduced in Scotland.

He said: “Scotland must not be left behind when it comes to farm animal welfare. If anything we should be taking the lead. So today we are redoubling our calls on the Scottish Government to introduce mandatory CCTV in all of Scotland’s 35 abattoirs.

“CCTV provides an important safeguard and helps protect both the animals and staff in slaughterhouse. It’s cheap, simple and effective. We are confident that the Scottish Government will be listening to the many voices calling for mandatory installation.”

OneKind have started a petition, and hope to receive the backing of 10,000 people. Activists claim that having independently monitored cameras will help to stamp out cases of animals being poorly treated or abused.

Currently, keepers of animals bred for meat must meet animal welfare laws and codes of practice, which cover the treatment of livestock including how they are fed, housed and transported, as well as how they are killed. Breaches of the new legislation in England would result in a welfare enforcement notice, the suspending or revoking of staff licences or referral for a criminal investigation.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “An estimated 95 per cent of animals are slaughtered in plants where CCTV has already been installed voluntarily.

“We do not consider CCTV, by itself, prevents welfare failures or secures welfare compliance and continue to monitor animal welfare at time of slaughter through the presence of Food Standards Scotland staff in all approved slaughterhouses.

“We will consider whether we have a role in helping industry produce a set of good proactive protocols for the review and use of CCTV at abattoirs.”