Hartshead Meats

On 8 May, a protest occurred at the Hartshead Meats facility on Broadcarr Lane, Mossley. This was one of several demonstrations arranged at the site following the release of an undercover documentary by Joey Carbstrong. The footage, filmed inside the Millstone Farm abattoir, alleges severe breaches of UK animal welfare standards. Key allegations include the dismemberment and decapitation of cows while still displaying signs of consciousness, and a routine failure to perform the required legal checks for death before starting the butchery process.

The abattoir is situated on the same site as P. Mullaney & Sons Limited scrap metal, creating a large industrial complex at Millstone Farm. The site is an FSA-approved abattoir (No. 2095) and is licensed for mixed-method operations, including both standard stunned slaughter and non-stun religious slaughter. While the scrap metal business has been based in Mossley since the 1940s, the meat processing facility is a later addition; the company states it was established 20 years ago, though the current legal entity was incorporated in 2010.

During the events on 8 May, individuals gathered at the entrance to the facility to observe the ongoing operations. Greater Manchester Police were present on Broadcarr Lane to monitor the situation and ensure the peace was maintained. This follows local concerns regarding a significant spillage of slaughterhouse waste onto the public highway documented around 30 April. This spillage resulted in two official reports being filed with the Environment Agency (references 02500948 and 02500952). The Agency’s intervention was prompted by reports of a red, noxious liquid discharging from the Millstone Farm site and entering local storm drains. Local councillors confirmed that the Agency was overseeing the clean-up operation and investigating the environmental impact on the surrounding area.

Following the publication of the footage, several prominent local retailers publicly distanced themselves from the facility. Businesses including The Butcher’s Block (Oldham) and W.H. Frost (Chorlton) confirmed they have suspended or terminated their supply contracts with Hartshead Meats pending the outcome of official investigations. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirmed it had launched an active investigation into the allegations and stated publicly that it was “taking the footage very seriously.” At the time of writing, no criminal convictions or court findings relating to the allegations have been publicly confirmed. Local MP Jonathan Reynolds also acknowledged the reports and confirmed he had contacted the FSA regarding concerns about compliance with animal welfare procedures at the site. In response to the allegations, Hartshead Meats stated that the released footage “lacks context.”

Following the protest on 8 May, it was reported that investigator Joey Carbstrong was arrested during a 4:00 AM police raid at his residence. While his team maintains his work was strictly for documenting welfare compliance, reports from the scene suggest the arrest was made on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offences. As of 9 May, Greater Manchester Police have not released a formal statement confirming the specific charges or the legal basis for the arrest.

The controversy surrounding Hartshead Meats has become part of a much wider national debate concerning slaughterhouse regulation, transparency and animal welfare enforcement within the UK meat industry. Issues raised by campaigners include the effectiveness of Food Standards Agency oversight, the use of CCTV inside slaughterhouses, welfare standards during slaughter, and the legality and ethics surrounding both stunned and non-stun slaughter practices. The case also reflects the increasing role of undercover investigations and activist journalism in exposing alleged welfare breaches within food production facilities. For many involved, the events at Hartshead Meats represent more than an isolated incident; the case has become symbolic of broader concerns surrounding the hidden realities of industrial slaughter in the United Kingdom.