Mouse nest found in London copper's paperwork

'A little embarrassed' by untidy desk

By Lester Haines, 5th January 2010

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A South London copper has been described as "a little embarrassed" after discovering mice had taken up residence in paperwork on his Kennington desk.

The rodent hideaway was exposed when pest control operatives were called in after staff "came across a number of mice at a police building", as an internal police report explains.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "Some of the desks were so messy it was a wonder anyone could find anything. It got to the stage where mice droppings were found on desks and that's when everyone thought 'it's time to do something about our desks'.

"That's when one guy found a mouse nest in his paperwork. It's fair to say he was a little embarrassed."

The spokeswoman stressed that the paperwork "did not relate to operational police matters", but the report highlights the need to adhere to the Met's "clear desk policy" of filing everything at the end of the day so the cleaners can do their job.

According to the Telegraph, police in Lambeth last year spent over £25k on vermin exterminators, a figure which included £12,018 on "rodent or mammal extermination" and £4,299 to rid the force of "unwanted birds".* ®