PLANS to avoid “savagery” in slaughterhouses by enforcing mandatory CCTV installation have been backed by Eastleigh MP Mike Thornton.

Animal rights group Animal Aid is leading the campaign in favour of cameras after carrying out an undercover investigation inside UK slaughterhouses.

They obtained footage of men beating and burning pigs with cigarettes, as well as other animals being improperly stunned and treated badly.

Some were picked up by their fleeces and ears and thrown into stunning pens, while there was also evidence of animals being electrocuted.

Kate Fowler, head of campaigns at Animal Aid, said: “There is no excuse for the savagery we filmed inside slaughterhouses, and yet it went on right under the noses of vets stationed there to monitor welfare.

“Clearly we need a more robust regulatory system and CCTV can play an important part in deterring and detecting welfare branches.

“We are very grateful for the support of these compassionate MPs who can see that action must be taken to hold the industry properly to account.”

Animal Aid says that ten leading UK supermarkets already insist that their slaughterhouse suppliers have CCTV installed, while more than 38,000 people have signed the e-petition.

A YouGov poll in June found that 76 per cent of respondents supported the introduction of cameras.

And Early Day Motion 177, tabled by Grahame Morris MP, also has the support of Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock.

The motion calls on the Government to make CCTV usage mandatory in order to increase animal protection and allow for prosecution of those caught breaking the law.

Mike Thornton MP said the problem was not one affecting his Eastleigh constituency, but that installing cameras would be the right thing to do.

He said: “It's just to have an extra check on what's going on in there, to make sure everyone's doing what's required.

“It was brought to my attention by a constituent and it seemed eminently sensible, because in that situation you could have one slaughterhouse which is being as humane as possible and another that isn't.”

The early day motion can be seen at parliament.uk/edm/2014-15/177.