Animal Aid has released footage taken secretly inside an Essex slaughterhouse that kills pigs. The film, which was shot over three days in April, shows scenes of extreme and deliberately-inflicted suffering, including use of electric tongs on animals’ snouts, tails and their open mouths. It was shot at A & G Barber’s abattoir in Purleigh, and is the seventh ‘red meat’ abattoir that the national campaign group has secretly filmed since January 2009. The Barber’s footage is the most shocking of all.

The Food Standards Agency has confirmed that one man has had his slaughter licence permanently revoked, and that both he and his employer are being investigated with a view to a prosecution.

Among the scenes filmed were:

Incompetent and inadequate stunning for almost every one of the 767 pigs filmed

Stunned pigs left to regain consciousness

The application of electric stunning tongs to snouts, ears and tails to encourage the animals to move or out of apparent malice

The use of electric stunning tongs around the bodies of animals, which does not stun but delivers instead a painful electric shock

Pigs being routinely kicked in the face

Pigs being hit in the face with shackle hooks, in one case, drawing blood

This is the seventh red meat slaughterhouse that Animal Aid has secretly filmed during the past 18 months, and the sixth where legal breaches have been recorded. As a result of this ongoing investigation, nine men from five slaughterhouses have been either suspended or have had their slaughter licences permanently revoked. Additionally, legal action has been taken or is underway against all nine men and also against four of the slaughterhouse operators.

Says Animal Aid Head of Campaigns, Kate Fowler:

‘The suffering inflicted on pigs at A & G Barber’s is unbearable to watch. That these vulnerable animals are forced to endure terrible and deliberate cruelty while the slaughterer mocks their plight is absolutely shocking.

‘The system has failed to protect these animals from violence, and our investigations indicate that breaches of animal welfare laws are widespread and commonplace. Our campaign to have CCTV installed in all slaughterhouses – which now has the support of the Food Standards Agency – would help ensure best practice and provide evidence for prosecutions but it will never end the suffering. The only way to do that is to choose meat-free foods.'

In response, a spokesperson for A & G Barber stated:

'Mr Barber is mortified by what has occurred and would not seek to defend what happened in any respect.

'The employee in question was a Russian, supplied by an agency, who has now been dismissed.

'There is a Government vet present in the plant at all times and the Government vet had not raised any concerns with animal welfare whatsoever so Mr Barber was not aware of any problems.'