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Rodent Control
The staff at present consists of two assistant rodent officers in charge of six rodent operatives under the
supervision of the Pest Control Officer based at two centres, namely 313/319 Harrow Road for the
northern half of the City, and at Bessborough Street Maternal and Child Health Centre for the southern
half of the City.
Primary and follow-up visits are made without charge in respect of complaints of rat and mouse
infestation in domestic and business premises and a free disinfestation service is provided for domestic
premises. Short-term treatment only is undertaken at business premises where circumstances permit and
for this a charge is made. Where treatment necessitates regular attention on a long-term basis, business
firms are advised to employ a commercial pest control organisation.
The problems of illness and retirement amongst the staff plus the difficulties experienced in obtaining
suitable recruits adversely affected the treatment service particularly to the business sector.
Continued attention is given to advances in methods of treatment, with particular regard to formulation
of poison baits as recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
The increase in mouse infestations which is a largely unexplained national phenomenon continued during
1972, but there was a considerable reduction in the rate of increase as compared with previous years.
The baiting of sewers against rat infestation, in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, is undertaken by a contractor on behalf of the City Council. Every manhole
and side entry to the sewers is baited with an approved rodenticide, on four occasions annually.
The operation requires advance information to be given to the Metropolitan Police, the Greater London
Council, the adjoining Boroughs and the City of London Corporation, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food and the City Engineer with regard to safety precautions which apply.
Greater London Mouse Survey
The survey initiated by the Pest Control Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was
designed to obtain a cross sectional evaluation of infestation with particular regard to mice. By the
employment of the department's technical assistants, participation in the survey was carried out in a four
week period during the months October and November which involved doorstep enquiries at one thousand
premises. From preliminary results so far as the City of Westminster is concerned the number of premises
infested at any time since 1971 indicated that 32% were infested by mice and 3% by rats.
Disinfection and Disinfestation
The disinfection service is carried out from two centres, namely Lissonia, 217 Lisson Grove, N.W.8 and
Wedlake Street Medicinal Baths, Kensal Road, W.10 by a staff of five disinfectors who also undertake
disinfestation.
During the year 52 (83) rooms, 3,912 (5,566) articles of bedding and clothing and 150 (208) books were
disinfected.
The department continued to be asked by residents to certify that clothing intended for despatch to
foreign countries, mainly those in Central Eastern Europe, was free from infection. In such cases disinfection
is carried out only when the articles concerned have actually been in contact with an infectious disease.
Thirteen (76) certificates were issued indicating that no infectious disease had been reported for a least
one month at the premises from which the clothing was purported to have come.
The pest control staff continued to deal with complaints concerning insect infestations. The insecticides
used are recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
As in the case of rodent control, a free service is provided in domestic premises but in business premises
where insect control is a matter of routine maintenance it is advised that a commercial pest control
organisation be employed.
During the year 4,669 (4,850) rooms were disinfested, and 33 (54) wasp nests destroyed.