Almost 10 years ago Leicester city council in England decided to move away from 24hr manned security in each 18 floor apartment building here in St Peters, Highfields, Leicester. (See http://www.stpetersnm.com )

What they opted for instead was 24 hr remotely monitored camera system which incorporated multiple cameras on each floor, at the entrance door to the building and inside each lift.

What the penny pinching pen pushers decided to do however, was to decide against putting the camera system on the stairwells.

To compound this lapse further they also decided not to extend the key tag entry system to the stairwell door in a way that would correspond with fire safety requirements. In 18 floor apartment building they left the downstairs stairwell door open to anyone who can tailgate (follow in behind) a legitimate resident at the main entrance door.

The highly predictable net result of this is that the stairwells of these high-rise buildings are often used for drugs, alcohol, loitering, and toilet needs by stoned or drunk gangs of youths and young men who have no business being in the buildings.

These stairwells become no go areas of dread and fear to many elderly residents or lone female residents forced to use them especially when the unreliable rickety lifts are out of order which they usually are.

So yes... to the penny pinching pen pushers at Leicester city council who came up with this whole situation http://www.stpetersnm.com would like to say “Thank you”... “Thank you very much indeed”. No doubt none of you live here!!!