Only 2.5% of more than 300,000 farms were inspected at least once in 2022 and 2023, researchers find

Summary

The UK’s welfare system for animals is failing, with only 2.5% of farms inspected in 2022 and 2023.

Local authorities, responsible for enforcement, have one inspector for every 878 farms, leading to low prosecution rates.

The Animal Law Foundation attributes this to a fragmented regulatory framework and lack of accountability.