Swift dispatch of newsroom mouse lands BBC in trouble

WHEN a mouse was spotted scurrying across the floor of the BBC’s New Broadcasting House, it elicited a swift response.

But the brutal method of the animal’s demise – reportedly crushed beneath the boot of a World Service staffer – has led the RSPCA to warn that mice in offices should not be killed. Instead, it advises companies to make their workplaces “less attractive to rodents”.

The fate of the BBC mouse was made public by James Kelly, a Radio 2 journalist and newsreader. He tweeted pictures of it next to a computer, referring to it affectionately as a “little fella” and nicknaming it “newsmouse”.

But in a follow-up tweet, he said: “A World Service colleague has killed the newsmouse with his boot! ‘It would have chewed through our cables’ was the reason given. Brutal.”

Twitter followers condemned the incident, with one saying: “That is cruelty and against the law … not humane. Maybe needs reporting.” Another said: “It’s illegal. Happy to notify RSPCA.”

Mr Kelly replied that he did not approve of the actions but thought it was “quicker than a trap or poison”.

However, the RSPCA called the incident “shocking”.

It said in a statement: “Most healthy mice would run away fast from a person so it may be that this poor creature was sick or injured, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it is a horrible thing to do to a defenceless rodent. We would always advise more humane ways of dealing with them than killing them.”

The charity suggested a humane trap, which allows the mouse to be captured and released outdoors, or “making the environment less attractive to rodents” by sweeping up crumbs and not leaving out food.

Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) said stamping on a mouse was “hideously cruel”. A spokesman said: “We urge the authorities to investigate and the BBC to inform all its staff and contractors about what constitutes cruelty, and why small animals are not exempt.” The BBC declined to comment. It is not the first time a BBC mouse has made the news. As Shelagh Fogarty presented a 5 Live show, a guest told her he had just seen a mouse running along the floor. A YouTube video of Fogarty yelping and climbing on to her chair has been viewed 190,000 times.