The Prison Officers Association (POA) has demanded an immediate halt to the use of therapy ferrets for rat control at HMYOI Wetherby, the UK's largest children's prison, following an incident where a boy witnessed a rat being savaged and then stomped to death by a senior staff member.
Incident Details
According to a union complaint seen by the Guardian, the unorthodox vermin control method was approved last month after a surge in rat numbers in prison offices and grounds. The decision resulted in a young inmate responsible for the ferrets witnessing an "inappropriate and potentially distressing" attack on a screaming rat. Another complaint alleges that the gored rodent was then "stomped to death" by a senior staff member in front of prison officers.
Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the POA, called for the policy to be reversed, stating, "This is an unacceptable working practice and should be abolished immediately. This once again proves that the unfit for purpose outsourced maintenance contract needs to be abandoned and brought back in house."
Background on Therapy Ferrets
Animal-assisted therapy was introduced more than a decade ago at Wetherby, a former borstal that serves as a national resource for the most vulnerable children in prison. The institution, built around decaying 1950s brick buildings, 1990s blocks, and repurposed naval huts, can hold up to 288 boys aged 15 to 18 but currently holds about 100. Ferrets are kept as part of a therapeutic programme for traumatised children, Prison Service sources said.
Rat Infestation and Response
In mid-May, staff and children complained about dozens of rats running around the grounds and inside prison buildings. A team of officers and children allowed to take on maintenance duties, called 'Q Branch', were given permission to use ferrets to kill the rats. According to a POA complaint sent to Governor Mark Scott, "a rat was cornered and killed within a staff office using domesticated ferrets. This raises significant concerns in relation to animal welfare, health and safety, infection control, and professional conduct."
Rather than destroy caught rats by approved pest control methods, a manager advised "stomping on them or throwing them against walls," the union's complaint said. A separate complaint to the Health and Safety Executive claimed the ferret "was running freely and chased the rat eventually biting it and holding it still" until a senior staff member "stomped on the rat until it died." Several staff also witnessed the incident.
Legal and Welfare Concerns
Permission to use ferrets to hunt rats was given by a named member of the senior management team, the HSE complaint said. The union argued the incident will traumatise child inmates and prison officers, poses a "contamination risk," and raises concerns under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.
The National Ferret Welfare Society stated that ferreting should be carried out in "a controlled manner by experienced adults." A spokesperson said, "While we cannot comment on the specific situation without further information, we cannot condone the stamping to death of any animal in any situation."
Broader Context
Rat infestations at prisons across England and Wales are increasingly common. A recent inspection at HMP Manchester found wings smelling strongly of rat urine, while at HMP Rochester, prisoners blocked gaps under cell doors with cardboard to keep rats out. In February, a report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons into Wetherby found high levels of violence and self-harm.
Prison Service sources blamed the rat influx on building work disturbing a nest. A Youth Custody Service spokesperson said: "This was an isolated incident relating to maintenance works. HMYOI Wetherby has since strengthened its pest control procedures to keep vermin out."
