Local authority pest control call-outs up 3% over a year
Councils responded to an additional 52 rat or mouse-related call-outs per day last year compared with 2022, Freedom of Information (FoI) requests by Direct Line home insurance found.
Bedbug infestations also soared by 35% between 2022 and 2024, while cockroach removal visits increased by 13% over the same period.
East Suffolk Council experienced the largest rise in rat or mouse-related call-outs last year, increasing by 325% on the previous year, followed by Eastleigh Borough Council in Hampshire, which saw a rise of 134%.
The analysis found the availability of council-operated pest control services remains a postcode lottery.
Just 5% of councils which responded to the FoI request provide rat and mice removal services free of charge to residents.
The majority require residents to pay a fee ranging from £10 to £283.
Some 24% of councils do not offer a pest control service, or have discontinued them, leaving residents in those areas forced to seek alternative solutions.
The average cost to a council of providing pest control services is more than £125,000, according to the study.
Maria Lawrence, from Direct Line, said: 'Infestations can not only cause huge damage to people's homes, they also pose a huge health hazard.
'Householders should take precautions to avoid attracting pests and needing to bring in the council's version of the Pied Piper of Hamelin by storing rubbish in securely closed containers rather than plastic bags that provide easy access to rats and other pests.'
Niall Gallagher, technical and compliance manager at the British Pest Control Association, said: 'The statistics show a significant uptick in call-outs, so it is increasingly important for residents to consider calling a professional at the first sign of pest activity.
' Rats and mice are a public health concern and have rapid breeding cycles, which means an infestation can quickly escalate.
'Bedbug infestations are tricky to deal with and horribly distressing for those that have to live alongside them, meaning a pest professional should always deal with them.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
6 hours ago
- Scotsman
Call a professional if pigeons are a problem, says BPCA
Call a professional if pigeons are a problem The breeding season for feral pigeons is well underway – and while the birds can become a problem around homes and businesses, it is essential anyone experiencing issues get in touch with a professional, say experts at British Pest Control Association (BPCA). Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Pigeons – like all wild birds, their nests and eggs – are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which means anyone who disturbs them and who is not operating under an appropriate licence, may face prosecution. In certain circumstances, management and control techniques may be required, but anyone concerned about pigeons should always seek advice from a BPCA member who specialises in bird control. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Niall Gallagher is Technical Manager at BPCA. He said: 'The breeding season for pigeons is between March and September. 'In that time, they can have up to seven broods, with two or three eggs in each. With enough food, young pigeons become independent adults in just 30 days and more eggs can be hatched before the young have even left the nest, which means a population can grow rapidly. [1] 'If pigeons are becoming a problem around a home or business, it is vital that advice is sought from a BPCA member or appropriate professional. Interfering with a wild bird, their nest or eggs is illegal, so do not consider any form of DIY pest control.' Pigeons can reportedly carry around 110 pathogens, and can spread disease to humans, as well as potentially causing secondary infestations of mites, ticks, fleas and beetles that live on their bodies and in their nests. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Niall added: 'Pigeon droppings are a public health risk and, in some circumstances, a potential slip hazard, once dry, pigeon droppings can become airborne in small particles, which can lead to respiratory complaints. 'The most effective way to deter pigeons from a particular site is to remove food sources. Bins should be kept securely closed, ensure the area is free of litter and debris and clear up any spills. 'Regularly flying a bird of prey in the area can be useful, but if pigeons are becoming a cause for concern, seek advice from a BPCA member.' BPCA member businesses are endorsed by the Government via the TrustMark quality scheme as they must carry the correct insurances and are trained and qualified technicians who are assessed to the British Standard in pest management EN 16636 and follow BPCA's Codes of Best Practice. To find a BPCA member visit:
Scotsman
10 hours ago
- Scotsman
Call a professional if pigeons are a problem, says BPCA
Call a professional if pigeons are a problem The breeding season for feral pigeons is well underway – and while the birds can become a problem around homes and businesses, it is essential anyone experiencing issues get in touch with a professional, say experts at British Pest Control Association (BPCA). Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Pigeons – like all wild birds, their nests and eggs – are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which means anyone who disturbs them and who is not operating under an appropriate licence, may face prosecution. In certain circumstances, management and control techniques may be required, but anyone concerned about pigeons should always seek advice from a BPCA member who specialises in bird control. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Niall Gallagher is Technical Manager at BPCA. He said: 'The breeding season for pigeons is between March and September. 'In that time, they can have up to seven broods, with two or three eggs in each. With enough food, young pigeons become independent adults in just 30 days and more eggs can be hatched before the young have even left the nest, which means a population can grow rapidly. [1] 'If pigeons are becoming a problem around a home or business, it is vital that advice is sought from a BPCA member or appropriate professional. Interfering with a wild bird, their nest or eggs is illegal, so do not consider any form of DIY pest control.' Pigeons can reportedly carry around 110 pathogens, and can spread disease to humans, as well as potentially causing secondary infestations of mites, ticks, fleas and beetles that live on their bodies and in their nests. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Niall added: 'Pigeon droppings are a public health risk and, in some circumstances, a potential slip hazard, once dry, pigeon droppings can become airborne in small particles, which can lead to respiratory complaints. 'The most effective way to deter pigeons from a particular site is to remove food sources. Bins should be kept securely closed, ensure the area is free of litter and debris and clear up any spills. 'Regularly flying a bird of prey in the area can be useful, but if pigeons are becoming a cause for concern, seek advice from a BPCA member.' BPCA member businesses are endorsed by the Government via the TrustMark quality scheme as they must carry the correct insurances and are trained and qualified technicians who are assessed to the British Standard in pest management EN 16636 and follow BPCA's Codes of Best Practice.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Scotsman
Police Scotland 'at breaking point' as scale of officer stress and mental health 'crisis' revealed
Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Police officers in Scotland are 'at breaking point' after figures revealed stress absences have soared by more than 50 per cent - amid warnings of a 'growing mental health crisis' within the force. SNP ministers have been blamed for years of 'mismanagement and neglect' of police officers after the rise in the number of absences between 2021 and 2024 was laid bare. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Police Scotland is bracing for a mental health 'crisis'. PIC: JOHN DEVLIN The data from Police Scotland shows the number of police officers absent from work due to anxiety, depression, stress or post-traumatic stress has risen by 52 per cent over the period. Police Scotland has pointed to a 'new HR structure with increased resources within our health and wellbeing team'. Scottish Labour warned a mental health 'crisis' was unfolding within Police Scotland and called for the SNP Government to address the mounting pressures facing officers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Government has highlighted 'a record £1.6 billion for policing' in this year's budget and stressed more new recruits were taken on last year than at any point since 2013. The data, obtained by Scottish Labour through Freedom of Information legislation, shows the number of officers absent for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and stress has risen from 814 in 2021, to 1,024 in 2022, 1,102 in 2023 and 1,236 in 2024 - an increase of 52 per cent over the period. Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: 'It's clear police in Scotland are at breaking point after years of SNP mismanagement and neglect. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Labour MSP Pauline McNeill | Getty Images 'We owe it to police officers to ensure they have the support they need while they work to keep our communities safe, but it's clear that is not the case under the SNP. 'The SNP has let police officer numbers collapse over the last five years, piling pressure on remaining officers and threatening to undermine public safety. The SNP must wake up to this growing mental health crisis and work with Police Scotland to support officers struggling with stress, trauma or poor mental health.' READ MORE: Police Scotland urged to ditch live facial scanning proposals by equalities groups Ms McNeill added: 'Dealing with this crisis is vital to keeping police officers in work and on duty at a time when we need visible officers in communities. Police officers cannot keep bearing the brunt of SNP failure – more must be done to support police and the vital work they do.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The revelation comes after separate figures showed Police Scotland's spending on overtime increased from £14 million in 2020/21 to almost £37m in 2021/22 before peaking at nearly £43m in 2022/23. The overtime spending dropped to £25m last year. David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, the union representing rank-and-file officers in Scotland, told a national newspaper 'we don't have enough officers to police safely'. David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation | PA He said: 'They are being called out on rest days. It's having a detrimental effect on the well-being of officers who are already exhausted.' A Scottish Police Federation report published in March found officers were suffering burnout, working in 'desperate and dreary' conditions, and frequently seeing rest days cancelled. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The survey also found officers complaining about poor morale, dwindling resources and a lack of support in dealing with work-related stress. Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: "The health and welfare of our officers and staff remains one of Police Scotland's highest priorities, with enhanced provisions from both our employee assistance and your well-being matters programmes. 'This will be further enhanced through the implementation of our new HR structure with increased resources within our health and well-being team. We also have a range of mechanisms in place to support our employees who are absent from work for any reason. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We continue to work with our occupational health provider to support police officers and staff in their journey back to health and, subsequently, to work.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Police officers and staff do a challenging job and we have welcomed the Chief Constable's commitment to workforce wellbeing. 'Staff and officers can access a range of services to support their physical and mental well-being. This includes access to a 24/7 employee assistance programme and direct access to occupational health services.
