Pigs: Animal Welfare
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2026 to Question 3739, how many allegations of piglet thumping were investigated by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in each of the last 3 years; and if she will take steps to record data on prosecutions in a way that would enable cases to be identified.
Answered by Stephen Morgan
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) take all complaints of illegal slaughter, other forms of on-farm killing and serious breaches of animal welfare, seriously. On receipt of a complaint, APHA will triage the details provided to determine the action required. The number of allegations specifically related to piglet thumping is not publicly available.
Local authorities lead on enforcement and prosecutions with support from APHA where needed to provide veterinary expertise and evidence. Any successful prosecution for welfare offences taken by a local authority is published in the annual Section 80 report under the Animal Health Act 1981 which is laid in Parliament. The data for this report is held and provided by the local authorities.
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