ANIMAL charities and political activists have launched a petition which urges the Scottish Parliament to introduce mandatory CCTV installation in Scotland’s 35 abattoirs.

The petition, which has so far attracted more than 2000 signatures, was created by animal charities OneKind and Animal Aid, who have teamed up with political activists to try to reach a 10,000-signature target.

Campaigners believe that CCTV is a “practical, proportionate measure” that will provide a “vital safeguard against cruelty”.

The SNP passed a resolution in favour of mandatory slaughterhouse CCTV installation at their conference in 2016. Since then, however, there has been little in the way of progress – prompting campaigners to raise the issue directly with the Scottish Parliament.

Kay Hamilton, the Dowager Duchess of Hamilton, was one of the SNP activists who secured the resolution in support of mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses last year and is asking the Scottish Government to “wake up to the fact that cruelty in slaughterhouses must stop”. She said: “Taking bold action and implementing party policy on mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses would be hugely popular with the Scottish people, who expect the Scottish Government to stand up for animals.”

Animal Aid director Isobel Hutchinson added: “Animal Aid’s investigations have shown consistently that slaughterhouse workers often abuse animals when they think no-one is watching.

“Independently-monitored CCTV is a practical, proportionate measure that will detect and deter such cruelties, and provide evidence for prosecutions should it be needed.”

The Scottish Government, like the rest of the UK, recommends the installation of CCTV as best practice but does not enforce its use with legislation.

OneKind director Harry Huyton said: “We’re helping bring this petition to Parliament because it’s clear that the voluntary approach is simply not working”.

“It’s not enough just to have a few cameras covering only parts of the slaughterhouse. A mandatory requirement would mean CCTV throughout all slaughterhouses that can be accessed by independent monitors, providing a vital safeguard against cruelty.”