Therapy ferrets kept at the UK's largest children's prison, HMYOI Wetherby in West Yorkshire, have been used by managers to kill rats, resulting in a bloody incident that has raised serious concerns over child and animal welfare.
Incident Details
According to a union complaint seen by the Guardian, a boy responsible for the ferrets witnessed a rat being savaged by the animals in an office. Another complaint alleges that a senior staff member then stomped the gored rodent to death in front of prison officers. The unorthodox vermin control method was approved last month following a surge in rat numbers in prison offices and grounds.
Union Response
Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the Prison Officers Association (POA), called for an immediate reversal of the policy. “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,” he said.
Background on Ferret Therapy
Animal-assisted therapy was introduced at Wetherby over a decade ago. 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 part of a therapeutic programme for traumatised children, according to Prison Service sources.
Rat Infestation and Permission to Use Ferrets
In mid-May, staff and children reported dozens of rats running around the grounds and inside buildings. A team of officers and children on maintenance duties, called 'Q Branch', received permission from senior management to use ferrets to kill the rats. The POA complaint stated that a rat was cornered and killed in a staff office using domesticated ferrets, raising concerns about animal welfare, health and safety, infection control, and professional conduct.
Health and Safety Concerns
A separate complaint to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) described how the ferret chased and bit the rat, holding it still until a senior staff member stomped on it until it died. The union argued that the incident traumatises child inmates and officers, poses a contamination risk, and breaches the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.
Expert and Society Reactions
The National Ferret Welfare Society stated that ferreting should be carried out in a controlled manner by experienced adults and could not condone the stamping to death of any animal. While ferrets are often used for hunting rabbits, some psychologists note they can help traumatised teenagers due to their playful and responsive nature.
Prison Rat Infestations and Response
Rat infestations are increasingly common across prisons in England and Wales. A recent inspection at HMP Manchester found wings smelling strongly of rat urine, while at HMP Rochester, prisoners blocked gaps under doors with cardboard to keep rats out. In February, an HM Inspectorate of Prisons report on 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.”
