Help pay fines for defending animals

Around 10 years ago, Essex Animal Defenders were tipped off about illegal abuse of animals by members of the public and former employees at Romford Halal Meats.

Authorities were alerted but no action was taken.

We therefore undertook a programme of random unannounced inspections to find out the extent of this for ourselves. We entered the premises and checked on animals mostly in the lairage areas and gathered photo and video evidence.

On each occasion, we found animals suffering with illness and injuries which the slaughterhouse are legally required to to provide veninary care for. We alerted staff and asked them to call a vet but they did not do this on any of the numerous occasions this occurred.

We called the police on one occasion and they had the police vet destroy 6 sheep to end thier suffering.

We never once saw a vet or animal welfare inspector deployed by the slaughterhouse or the FSA/Defra.

In 2019 we passed a file of evidence to the Met. They took this to the Food Standards Agency who are responsible for enforcing animal welfare laws but once again no action was taken.

The system is broken. It is pointless having laws to protect animals if no-one is willing to monitor or enforce them.

It should not be down to concerned members of the public to identify when abuses are taking place.

Out of sheer desperation, in November 2020 two of our number decided to lock themselves together in front of the kill room entrance.

They were prosecuted for aggravated trespass and fined £850 and £620.

It should never have come to this. The FSA procedures should prevent this kind of suffering without concerned members of the public getting involved.

Instead of punishing those abusing vulnerable animals, the system has punished those trying to stand up for them.

Please help our brave activists by contributing to the court fines.