Symington House security works brief

  1. Objective

The aim is to tackle frequent urination in the lift and staircase, which we believe is caused by non-residents gaining unauthorised entry to these areas.

  1. Scope of work

Following investigation & consultation the scope of work is:

a)CCTV

  • Upgrade or replace the existing CCCTV system. Working with residents ensure maximum coverage, the lifts, stairs and ground floor lobby are key locations
  • Ensure that information can be easily retrieved (this is a significant problem at present)
  • Give CCTV footage the maximum availability allowable by law, as we believe that this will contribute to self-policing. Ideally we would like a link to residents’ own TV, a display screen in the main lobby and a link to staff tablets.

b)Entry phones

The block already has an entry phone system, with two points of entry. The existing system needs to be up-graded:

  • Residents report that it is hard to open/ close the door on the Harper Square side because of wind pressure. A sliding door may be the solution
  • Consideration should be given to a video hand-sets, so that residents can see who is buzzing to get in
  • The JMB wants the ability to remotely decommission fob keys when a tenant leaves
  • The JMB would like to be able to access information about which residents are allowing people to access the block, from fob and entry phone information.

c)Secondary entry phones

There should be second barrier of entry phones to prevent access to the lift and stairway from the ground floor. Consideration should be given to restricting access to the lift and stairway on each floor.

We have seen other blocks where there is secondary entry system on the balconies on each floor. The JMB is not recommending this, because there is little evidence of ASB happening on the balcony or in the lift lobbies. Break-ins have not been an issue for many years.

d)Signage

Signage should be used to discourage non-residents from entering the block, without an initiation from a resident. Also the signage should encourage residents not to let anyone they don’t know into the block.

e)Fire pathways

The block has fire pathways, which offer a secondary means of estate from the bedrooms of maisonettes. Whilst this design has the potential to cause ASB problems this has not been the case for many years.

f)Physical parking control

Investigate the cost & benefit of physical measures to stop unauthorised parking. This may be re-commissioning the existing gallows gate or installing an electronic parking control mechanism.

Residents report unauthorised parking by residents in a neighbouring housing development and spaces being blocks by parents dropping off/ picking up children at an adjoining secondary school.

  1. Resident consultation

The JMB understands that designing out ASB with physical measures is difficult. To be successful an active partnership with residents is required. Contributing to extensive resident consultation is an essential part of this brief.

  1. Background:

The JMB has conducted two lobby area consultation meetings with residents. The second meeting was attended by fourteen residents.

The JMB is working with residents and the police to address ASB issues. The principles are:

  • An effective solution must involve residents, the police and the JMB working together
  • It is critical to get the facts right, which means talking to as many residents as possible and getting their views
  • Physical works such as more effective entry phones and CCTV could be part of the answer. We have visited other estates where spending money does not seem to have worked and we are determined to avoid this mistake by doing as much consultation/ research as we can.

Our Housing officers have talked to 47 residents and this is their view:

  • 26 residents said that ASB is not an issue
  • 9 said the stairs are a problem, taking about urine, youths and the smell of weed
  • 8 said that other residents are a problem, taking about loud music, unruly children, residents leaving bagged rubbish especially in the ground floor lobby around and doors banging
  • 7 said the lifts are a problem, again talking about urine & smell of weed
  • 3 said that dogs continually barking is a problem
  • No one referred to being assaulted or intimidated in the block
  • No one referred to break-ins

Our cleaning supervisor says they continue to clean up urine 2-3 times a week from the stairs/ lifts.

The local police team say that Symington was their top priority for March & April 2017, but they recorded no incidents since 9th Jan 2017, and therefore the block is no longer a priority.

Residents and officers visited two estates in Hackney, Nightingale and Gascoigne, to review their design solutions.

We said that we’ll provide information about the benefits and costs of both a concierge and employing a private security firm. Our initial research indicates that the costs are very high in relation to potential benefits.

The help we need from residents is:

  • Do not let people you don’t know into the block
  • For parents to take responsibility for the friends their children are bringing into the block
  • Not to play music so loudly it can be heard outside your flat
  • Do not leave bagged rubbish in public areas. If you have lost your fob to the bin chamber please let us know.

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