Think about biosecurity
Ensure enhanced biosecurity measures are followed if you think unauthorised people have had access to your animals.
- Contact your vet if you have specific concerns about activists having been in contact with your animals, or exposing them to unknown substances.
- Could any of your feedstuffs or crops have been contaminated?
- Depending on the nature of the layout of your farm, consider disinfecting contaminated areas or introducing enhanced cleaning and biosecurity measures for your staff immediately after an incursion or suspected incursion.聽
Check your security
Check the security of your farm in the immediate aftermath and make a clear record of any damage caused during the incursion
Ask:
- Has anything been clearly tampered with?
- Have any gates been left open?
- Is there any evidence of animals having been disturbed or moved?
- Take photographs of anything suspicious and keep a clear record of what has happened, or what you suspect has happened.
- Review any CCTV footage you may have.
- Consider conducting a sweep of your barns and sheds to search for hidden cameras or recording equipment.
- Read our information on how to reduce the risks, and consider what measures could be put in place to help prevent a future incursion.
Contact assurance schemes
Consider contacting relevant assurance scheme bodies (eg. Red Tractor, RSPCA) or Trading Standards.
- If you only suspect there has been an incursion on your farm, then you do not need to contact your assurance scheme bodies unless you have a specific issue to raise with them1.
- If you are made aware that there is going to be media coverage following an incursion, then it is good practice to contact your assurance scheme bodies proactively to let them know what has happened.
- You may want to request an 鈥榦n the spot鈥� inspection to ensure that there are no compliance issues. This could help you respond to any negative media stories and assist in discussions with your customer(s).
- Guidance on engaging with the media can be found on our media advice page.
1You should check whether your assurance scheme body has聽specific policies or procedures that apply in situations involving animal rights activists.
Think about your customers
Consider contacting your customer(s) in the following circumstances:
- If you only suspect there has been an incursion on your farm, then you do not need to contact your customer(s) unless you have a specific issue to raise with them2.
- If you are made aware that there is going to be media coverage following an incursion, then it is good practice to contact your customer(s) proactively to let them know what has happened.
- If you have had a recent inspection from your assurance scheme body, then you may want to let your customer(s) know the outcome of this inspection to help avoid potential聽temporary de-listing following negative media coverage about your farm.
2You should check whether your customer(s) has specific policies or procedures that apply in situations involving animal rights activists.
Follow risk reduction measures
As well as reading our information on reducing the risks of protesters targeting your farm, ensure you also keep on top of other good housekeeping measures.聽
Refresh staff training
- Ensure that your staff are aware of any on-farm protocols following an incursion or suspected incursion.
- Put a plan in place for communicating any potential issues identified on a day-to-day basis.
- Consider reviewing (or introducing) procedures for checking the identity of any visitors to the farm. Do you have a visitor鈥檚 book? Are your staff aware of your visitor policy?
- Do your staff know the relevant contact details and procedures for the police and anyone else you would like notified in the event of an incursion or suspicious activity?
- Do your staff know to avoid confrontations with activists where possible? Our guide: activists 鈥� protesters on farm聽lists what to consider should a confrontation occur.
Enhanced security measures
Consider installing enhanced security measures, such as CCTV or infrared or laser, technology.
- Infrared or laser technology can be placed in building doorways so that an alarm is triggered when the beam is broken by someone entering the building after hours or without permission.
- Any surveillance technology must be fit for purpose and suitable for use within a farm environment.
Vigilance
- Remain vigilant 鈥� note any further suspicious activity and report it to the police.
See our other activism pages
