Dr. Lynn Hillyer:

Part of an investigation or visit onto a yard involves reconnaissance. One needs to understand what exits and entrances one has and one needs to make sure those are covered. The story the Deputy is talking about, for example, of an animal leaving or moving or being spirited away in a lorry down the back drive does not happen on visits where we have that reconnaissance done.

The Deputy is completely right. We do not have a movement database for horses in the same way as is present for cattle. We would love one and we are working hard on that with other authorities and groups. Right here, right now, however, our way to deal with that is to do our homework properly. When we attend a yard, therefore, if we have concerns about animals moving, my officers are briefed to literally park behind the horse lorries and make sure they have gone to the back gates just as the Department does. We operate, therefore, in the same way as the Department's authorised officers.