Prison bosses have been forced into getting a cat to control a vermin problem in its ageing buildings.

A severe infestation at HMP Rochester was found by independent inspectors during an annual visit to check on standards within the prison.

Rats and mice were found in the wings – which are mostly Edwardian – and in the kitchen and healthcare areas, a report published by the Rochester Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) this week revealed.

Pest control teams had been called in "without much success", the report states.

But there had been improvements in recent months after a new baiting process was introduced, arrangements for waste disposal and the introduction of the prison cat.

Mark Powell, information officer for Rochester IMB, said the prison moggy has not been given a name and was not an affectionate animal who craved human contact:

"He's not your everyday pet and you wouldn't want to be cornered with him. He's quite a feral beast," Mr Powell said.

"We've had contractors in and set traps but the cat just comes in and goes about his work.

"The building is not as airtight as modern ones so that's where cat and mouse can come in.

"You shouldn't need to have this response but it's a very old prison and it's proved modern methods aren't always that effective. Some pretty drastic measures were needed."

The problem had become so widespread throughout the prison, it has led to prisoners being given Tupperware containers to store food in their cells.

Inspectors noted controlling vermin in the prison "continues to plague the prison governor" and has been a daily issue for prisoners and staff.

While inspectors said the prison overall provides a "safe and decent environment" there were concerns about the availability of drugs inside the facility.

Drugs and illegal substances found has risen by 25% in the past year with 278 items discovered during the reporting period (April 2019 to March 2020).

"It is a challenging working environment because of the difficulties in keeping out drugs"

Inspectors say the open nature of the site has been the greatest challenge for security teams to stop illicit items, contraband and mobile phones being thrown into the prison.

A new CCTV system has helped to monitor hotspots and identify when packages have been thrown over the fences and into the grounds.

Some 66 parcels were intercepted but the report notes it is "difficult to estimate interception rate" and inspectors fear it could sometimes be lower than 50%.

Discovery of fermenting liquid – known as hooch – inside the prison had also increased from 78 to 87 in the latest report.

Inspectors said it had caused disruption in the prison with drunken prisoners turning violent with more than 60 litres found hidden in cells during Christmas and New Year when sniffer dogs were brought in.

On two occasions, prisoners were found to have swallowed a mobile phone while their cell was being searched. The phones are used for prisoners to acquire drugs.

The board found the prison to have good levels of cleanliness but noted the condition of the buildings to be of "minimal standard of acceptable accommodation".

Older blocks require regular maintenance and funding changes have led to planned refurbishment being cut back.

The board also acknowledged too many prisoners were not being housed in the correct category due to a lack of space available.

Rochester, which is a Category C prison and young offenders institution, has a high number of Category D prisoners awaiting transfer to more open conditions which inspectors said was having a frustrating effect on many prisoners who had "worked hard" to be downgraded to Category D status.

Susan Fitzjohn, deputy chairman of the Rochester IMB, said: "To the credit of those working there, HMP Rochester remains a generally well-run prison.

"It is a challenging working environment because of the difficulties in keeping out drugs and other contraband due to the geography of the site. However it has remained stable and continues to be on track to achieve its key role as a resettlement prison.“

Despite many "mundane" jobs being offered, the 85% attendance rates for work activity was praised but the board felt the "inability to deliver sufficient meaningful occupation for the prisoners" meant this contributed to the drugs problems inside the prison.

The IMB is made up of volunteers from the community and appointed by the justice secretary to inspect the site.

The board told the government it needed to increase funding for resources across the prison estate for security technology and intervention programmes to tackle drug use to ensure a "better outcome for prisoners and reduce reoffending".

They added rates cannot be brought down "unless there is suitable accommodation for all prisoners" with too many prisoners in Rochester being released to become homeless rough sleepers.

Inspectors said the recent policy of referring "those at risk" of being homeless upon release was "not producing any improvement".

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