B40-01-00 Pest Invasion
The IRC wrote to the CEO of PCC about the growing number of RATS appearing across Peterborough back in March 2025 and have just received a reply :
Quote - Thank you for your email concerning the rat issues within the city. I have been asked to respond on Charlotte's behalf. Over recent weeks, we have been collaborating with our Environment Health colleagues to investigate this matter further.
Under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949, all landowners must keep their land free from rats and mice. However, this does not mean that every site where rats have been seen will require the deployment of bait traps, as these can pose risks to other wildlife and residents. Similarly, removing all harbourage is not always proportionate due to the significant landscape and environmental impacts. Nevertheless, some action may be necessary where evidence supports it.
For the Council to investigate matters further, we need evidence of a recurring problem associated with the land. According to the Environment Health Team, a single rat sighting is insufficient evidence. However, regular daily sightings of multiple rats may be adequate, particularly if supported by photographic or diary-type information.
We are currently developing a platform to allow residents to report rat sightings meaningfully, with appropriate supporting evidence to enable us to act where necessary. Additionally, we are working with the pest control companies we employ to ensure we receive more comprehensive reporting when complaints proceed to investigation.
I apologise that this work is still underway, but please be assured that every effort is being made to address this growing threat. Unquote
I think that asking the public to provide photgraphic evidence of rats is rather unrealistic. The speed with which rats move from one place of cover to another (especially considering the amount of overgrown bushes along the pathways and roads across Peterborough) makes it pretty difficult to capture them on camera. By the time you have got your phone ready to take a picture they have already gone. On this subject the council need to take reports from the public on face value. Most people have better things to do than waste their time generating "false" reports of vermin. If a member of the public reports seeing a rat(or rats) then let's assume that this is a genuine concern. Multiple reports will build up a history of hotspot areas.