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FSA welcomes prosecution of slaughterhouse operative
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Offences were laid jointly by the Crown Prosecution Service and FSA's prosecution team, following a multi-agency investigation.
Case is a 'significant landmark' in using covert footage

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has welcomed the successful prosecution of a slaughterhouse operative in Staffordshire this week, describing it as a 'significant landmark' in the use of covert footage as evidence in a criminal case.

According to the FSA, Mr Anthony Bagshaw was sentenced to a total of 10 months' imprisonment at Stafford Crown Court. Mr Bagshaw was handed an eight-month sentence for offences relating to food safety and a further two months for animal welfare/movement offences.

In May 2016, Mr Bagshaw is reported to have pleaded guilty to 24 offences, including serious animal welfare breaches, food safety offences (illegal slaughter without inspections and slaughtering a species he was not licensed to slaughter), movement of animals without authorisation and trading standards offences (sale of meat without traceability information).

Offences were laid jointly by the Crown Prosecution Service and FSA's prosecution team, following a multi-agency investigation carried out by the FSA and Staffordshire Council. The investigation took place as a result of footage gained by covert cameras, which were installed by a non-profit organisation at Mr Bagshaw's plant in Leek, Staffordshire.

The FSA reports that Honour Judge Gosling remarked in his sentencing that Mr Bagshaw had "disregarded regulatory requirements deliberately and over a long period [of time]" and that the food safety offences had "put food safety seriously at risk" and had the effect of "undermining confidence that the public have in regulatory controls on food."

Describing some of the animal welfare offences as "wanton cruelty", Honour Judge Gosling is said to have added: "Your ill treatment of a number of animals was a shock even to an observer with no interest in the welfare of stock for slaughter."

Commenting on the case, Jason Feeney, FSA's chief operating officer, said: "We welcome the sentencing today and are pleased that the defendant recognised he broke the law in relation to meat hygiene and animal welfare breaches. The FSA will not tolerate food crime that endangers both consumers and animals alike.

"We hope the sentencing is a major deterrent to those who think they can profit from cutting corners and jeopardising food safety."

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.