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RSPCA inspectors descend on Ramsgate to monitor animal welfare RSPCA inspectors descend on Ramsgate to monitor animal welfare
(1 day later)
As the lorries trundled in, the cries went up. "Animal abuser!" shouted one woman. "Evil scum!" yelled another. People jeered and shook their fists. "Unless you come down here and see it for yourself you can't realise how horrific it is," said Mary Harvey, a local teacher. As the lorries drove on towards the ship waiting for them in Ramsgate port, the sea air filled with the stench of farm animals.As the lorries trundled in, the cries went up. "Animal abuser!" shouted one woman. "Evil scum!" yelled another. People jeered and shook their fists. "Unless you come down here and see it for yourself you can't realise how horrific it is," said Mary Harvey, a local teacher. As the lorries drove on towards the ship waiting for them in Ramsgate port, the sea air filled with the stench of farm animals.
What would once have been regarded as the conflict of another time and place has, in the past year, arrived noisily and angrily in this usually peaceful seaside town. Since May, Ramsgate has been the only port in the UK through which live animals are exported. More than 76,000 of them – mostly sheep and calves – passed through it last year on their way to continental Europe.What would once have been regarded as the conflict of another time and place has, in the past year, arrived noisily and angrily in this usually peaceful seaside town. Since May, Ramsgate has been the only port in the UK through which live animals are exported. More than 76,000 of them – mostly sheep and calves – passed through it last year on their way to continental Europe.
Now, for the first time in a decade, the RSPCA has arrived at a UK port to keep a closer eye on the live export trade.Now, for the first time in a decade, the RSPCA has arrived at a UK port to keep a closer eye on the live export trade.
Last Thursday, as three lorries carrying more than 500 sheep and around 120 calves drove in for transport to Calais, chief inspector Dermot Murphy said the prospect was bittersweet. "RSPCA inspectors haven't been at ports for many years," he said. "In some ways it's an honour to be representing the society to do that work, but at the same time I would like to be the last to be doing it."Last Thursday, as three lorries carrying more than 500 sheep and around 120 calves drove in for transport to Calais, chief inspector Dermot Murphy said the prospect was bittersweet. "RSPCA inspectors haven't been at ports for many years," he said. "In some ways it's an honour to be representing the society to do that work, but at the same time I would like to be the last to be doing it."
When he first visited last month, Murphy, working alongside officials from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, issued two hauliers with warning notices for having broken ventilation fans and mixed sheep in the same lorry. Similar notices were issued by the government agency Animal Health. No such infringements were found last week, although a sheep's hoof was found to have been stuck in a ventilation shaft and was released.When he first visited last month, Murphy, working alongside officials from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, issued two hauliers with warning notices for having broken ventilation fans and mixed sheep in the same lorry. Similar notices were issued by the government agency Animal Health. No such infringements were found last week, although a sheep's hoof was found to have been stuck in a ventilation shaft and was released.
Campaigners hope the mere presence of the extra inspectors will have a positive effect on welfare standards in a trade they claim is unnecessary and cruel. In the meantime, they will carry on registering their dissent.Campaigners hope the mere presence of the extra inspectors will have a positive effect on welfare standards in a trade they claim is unnecessary and cruel. In the meantime, they will carry on registering their dissent.
Every time there is a sailing, there is also a protest. "It's on my doorstep and everyone else's doorstep," said Reg Bell, a local businessman who has turned out for almost all the demonstrations since May. "We don't want it. And we're not going to have it." Ian Driver, a local councillor who launched an e-petition urging the government to reform animal export laws, said: "A year ago I wouldn't have even thought about animal rights but the first time I saw it, it was terrible. I'd never seen the likes of it."Every time there is a sailing, there is also a protest. "It's on my doorstep and everyone else's doorstep," said Reg Bell, a local businessman who has turned out for almost all the demonstrations since May. "We don't want it. And we're not going to have it." Ian Driver, a local councillor who launched an e-petition urging the government to reform animal export laws, said: "A year ago I wouldn't have even thought about animal rights but the first time I saw it, it was terrible. I'd never seen the likes of it."
In the mid-1990s, when the outcry over the live export trade was at its height, millions of animals were leaving for Europe every year. Then came the lull caused by the BSE crisis, and the trade largely dried up. In 2010, however, a former Soviet tank carrier called the Joline started taking live animals from Dover and, in May, moved its business to Ramsgate.In the mid-1990s, when the outcry over the live export trade was at its height, millions of animals were leaving for Europe every year. Then came the lull caused by the BSE crisis, and the trade largely dried up. In 2010, however, a former Soviet tank carrier called the Joline started taking live animals from Dover and, in May, moved its business to Ramsgate.
The number of animals exported began to rise significantly. Defra figures released to Compassion in World Farming under the Freedom of Information Act indicate that trade reached a peak in October, with the export of 22,301 sheep. At other times, calves, goats and pigs have been in the lorries. According to campaigners, the trade appears to have dropped off since the beginning of this year.The number of animals exported began to rise significantly. Defra figures released to Compassion in World Farming under the Freedom of Information Act indicate that trade reached a peak in October, with the export of 22,301 sheep. At other times, calves, goats and pigs have been in the lorries. According to campaigners, the trade appears to have dropped off since the beginning of this year.
For the people fighting to end live animal transport, however, this is no cause for celebration. Buoyed by moves in Brussels to impose an eight-hour maximum on any journey travelled by animals, they are quietly confident the trade will ebb away in coming years. In the meantime, though, they continue to demand more stringent inspection of the exports and raise questions about the suitability of the Joline to carry live animals because she takes four hours to complete a crossing that a commercial ferry would make in around two hours.For the people fighting to end live animal transport, however, this is no cause for celebration. Buoyed by moves in Brussels to impose an eight-hour maximum on any journey travelled by animals, they are quietly confident the trade will ebb away in coming years. In the meantime, though, they continue to demand more stringent inspection of the exports and raise questions about the suitability of the Joline to carry live animals because she takes four hours to complete a crossing that a commercial ferry would make in around two hours.
As the owner of Ramsgate port, the council has been placed in a tricky position by the exports row. Strongly opposed to what Poole calls a "totally unnecessary" trade, it was advised that under the 1847 Harbours Act it had no choice but to accept the Joline. It is now working with the RSPCA to try to stop the live exports. "Our preferred method would be slaughter near the point of production and get them across in a refrigerated lorry," said Poole. "We feel that's more humane." As the owner of Ramsgate port, Thanet district council has been placed in a tricky position by the exports row. Strongly opposed to what Alan Poole, deputy leader of the council, calls a "totally unnecessary" trade, it was advised that under the 1847 Harbours Act it had no choice but to accept the Joline. It is now working with the RSPCA to try to stop the live exports. "Our preferred method would be slaughter near the point of production and get them across in a refrigerated lorry," said Poole. "We feel that's more humane."
Like the National Farmers' Union, Trevor Head, the driver of one of Thursday's lorries, argues that there is nothing inherently wrong with the trade as long as welfare standards are maintained. He would like to see commercial ferries take the exports again, a step that would shorten the journeys but which ferry companies such as P&O have said they will not consider.Like the National Farmers' Union, Trevor Head, the driver of one of Thursday's lorries, argues that there is nothing inherently wrong with the trade as long as welfare standards are maintained. He would like to see commercial ferries take the exports again, a step that would shorten the journeys but which ferry companies such as P&O have said they will not consider.
As the noses of some of the 270 sheep he had on board poked out of the holes in the side of his lorry, Head said: "I don't agree with the very long distances … But there's nothing wrong with this trade if it's done properly."As the noses of some of the 270 sheep he had on board poked out of the holes in the side of his lorry, Head said: "I don't agree with the very long distances … But there's nothing wrong with this trade if it's done properly."
He was setting off for Belgium, a journey which he said would take 11 hours. Driving through the baying protesters, he said, was a very humiliating experience which reminded him of the direct action of the 1990s. He would have received little sympathy from the activists, however, who have erected a banner at the entrance to christen it the "port of shame".He was setting off for Belgium, a journey which he said would take 11 hours. Driving through the baying protesters, he said, was a very humiliating experience which reminded him of the direct action of the 1990s. He would have received little sympathy from the activists, however, who have erected a banner at the entrance to christen it the "port of shame".
"Feelings are running high," said Murphy. "And it would be very difficult to predict how people may react if [the live export trade] continues or indeed increases.""Feelings are running high," said Murphy. "And it would be very difficult to predict how people may react if [the live export trade] continues or indeed increases."
• This article was amended on 19 April 2012 to restore a reference to Alan Poole, deputy leader of Thanet district council, which had been lost in the editing process.