Inhumane slaughter has no place in the UK

We, the undersigned, deplore the deeply disturbing images shown on Sky News, showing repeated and callous abuse of horses during the process of slaughter. We call upon the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to fully investigate these incidents as a matter of urgency; for operations at the plant to be immediately suspended until new procedures are put in place and the FSA guarantees the plant will comply with the law; to properly enforce the established welfare laws in place to protect animals from this needless suffering; and for Defra to require the installation of, and monitor footage from, CCTV in all English slaughterhouses [NB: there are currently no slaughterhouses licensed to take horses in Scotland or Wales, and policy for these is the responsibility of the devolved administrations. A copy of this petition will also be sent to them].