A disgusting video shows the moment a huge swarm of rats crawl out of bins in east London in the latest evidence of the capital’s growing rodent problem.
The vermin were spotted in Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets on Saturday evening and shared on TikTok, in a video which has since been viewed thousands of times.
Footage shows the rats scurrying out from beneath a row of bins and fighting over a discarded takeaway box, seemingly unbothered by the presence of so many cars and pedestrians.
Initially, a group of six or seven of the rodents can be seen scurrying around on the pavement. However, the camera then zooms out and pans over to the dumpsters to reveal dozens more of the creatures.
The rats, visibly unafraid, continue to pour out of hiding and swarm the pavement with one of the animals appearing to even venture across the road before darting back as a motorbike passes.
The pack of rodents was spotted by a resident on New Road in Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets on Saturday evening who posted the footage on Tik Tok
Initially, a group of six or seven rats can be seen scurrying around on the pavement. However, the camera then zooms out and pans over to the dumpsters to reveal dozens more of the creatures
In the video the vermin can be seen fighting over a takeaway box. The rats, visibly unafraid, continue to pour out of hiding and swarm the pavement
It represents the latest in a long list of rat-related incident in Tower Hamlets, which has a well documented history of facing large rodent infestations.
In September 2023, during a bin strike which lasted nine days, food waste and rubbish attracted rats and other vermin which led locals to claim they see ‘rats every day and more of them.’
Meanwhile, Talk TV reported at the time that mutant rats that are less susceptible to pesticides had invaded the borough and claimed there are 300 million rats across the UK.
Another video from May 2022 showed a mound of rats leaping on top of each other to try and escape a bin in Tower Hamlets.
Back in 2017 a report by London Assembly Member, and Tory candidate for mayor in the upcoming London mayoral election, Susan Hall revealed that Tower Hamlets had the highest number of complaints about rats at 30,000.
At the time, in words reported by ITV News, Ms Hall said: ‘London’s rodent population is on the rise and, as the city continues to grow and its density increases, that trend could well continue.
‘The Mayor of London and local authorities across the capital have a responsibility to ensure the prevalence of rats and mice in the city does not get out of control.’
Elsewhere in the country, there is a growing fear that cuts to council spending, in light of the financial constraints many councils face, could lead to pest control services being slashed all together.
Brick Lane in Tower Hamlets last September during the bin strike. The strike which lasted nine days attracted rats and other vermin
A mound of rats attempting to escape a bin in Tower Hamlets in May 2022
Nottingham City Council, which has already filed a Section 114 notice – effectively bankruptcy – recently mooted axing pest control services altogether as it struggles to balance the books.
Paul Blackhurst from Rentokil Pest Control explained how rats can thrive in densely populated, urban areas like Tower Hamlets.
He said: ‘Rats need three things to survive – a safe place to live, water and food. Food is the main driving force for rats so when you have urban areas with an abundance of food waste readily available and relatively easy to get to they can thrive.
‘On top of this old infrastructure is perfect for rats such as old sewers which they can take advantage of. Once they find a safe place to nest where they know there is food they stay there.’
Mr Blackhurst said for rats to be removed from cities across the UK it will take a ‘collective effort.’
He said: ‘Councils can do their bit by empty bins frequently and landlords can help by clearing out rubbish from their houses and by making sure rats can’t get into homes.
‘It isn’t something that can be fixed overnight and it’s going to take a lot of work to get rid of them.’
MailOnline has approached Tower Hamlets Council for a comment. On the council’s website it says Tower Hamlets’ pest control will remove rats for free. While the removal of other pests, such as bed bugs, will cost as much as £213.60.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13209569/Horrifying-moment-huge-swarm-rats-crawl-bins-east-London-scurry-pavement-latest-evidence-capitals-growing-rodent-problem.html
