Abattoir aggression hampers hygiene inspectors' checks

THE safety of meat is being put into jeopardy because inspectors are regularly subjected to violence by employees at slaughterhouses, a trade union has revealed.

A survey by trade union Unison found that more than 50% of meat inspectors are being prevented from enforcing meat safety because they are frequently intimidated when they are trying to carry out hygiene checks.

Some had been threatened with knives or guns, while others had cars vandalised and offices wrecked, claimed the report.

"Apart from actual attacks, many face a continual tirade of obscenity and abuse which slowly wears down their professional resolve," said Keith Sonnet, head of local government for Unison.

But Peter Scott, general secretary of the Federation of Fresh Meat Wholesalers, said it was a minority of "older, less progressive" firms that found it difficult to adapt to a culture of extreme policing. "The progressive plants have a vested interest in working in partnership with inspectors and do a good job," he said.

See News Analysis, page 18