A Ramsgate tower block resident who called police after hearing shouting and crashing from one of the upper floors says he is bewildered that ‘security’ staff at the flats did not intervene.
Kennedy House resident Mark Hodder says a fracas broke out at 4am yesterday (October 23) involving a young couple.
He said: “I heard the boyfriend smashing up things in the girl’s flat and she has a kid. I got on my phone to police and tried to give them as much information as I could. At first I thought it was out the front of the building but then realised it was on (an upper) floor.
“We have four security guards on duty all day and then they change at 8pm for another four, with two in each building (Kennedy House and Trove Court).
“I looked out the back and two of them were looking up and I thought why are they not on a phone reporting this?”
Mark says he then went to the foyer where the other two staff were and asked what was going on and was told they were unable to intervene.
He added: “Apparently they are not allowed to get involved in anything that goes on in the building so people can just get battered or maybe a kid gets killed and they do nothing.
“There had been a lot of screaming, shouting and banging with things being smashed up, even the fire door was off its hinges.
“The police were here in seconds, they didn’t hang about.”
Patrols
In 2021, Thanet council agreed a contract for patrols and waking watch services at its blocks of flats.
The patrols recorded and reported all issues through to the council’s Housing Management officers so that any follow up actions needed could be arranged.
The contract for the waking watch service 24/7 at Staner Court, Trove Court, Kennedy House, Harbour Towers and Invicta House focused on reducing the risks associated with fire and raising the alarm in the case of a fire. The waking watch also assists the fire service on site with a managed evacuation.
The watch is in place while a programme of capital works continues to be carried out, which includes the replacement of the existing external wall insulation, together with structural, fire safety and cyclical works.
A Thanet council spokesperson said: “We are unable to comment on the incident at Kennedy House in Ramsgate, which has been reported to Kent Police.
“A ‘waking watch’ is on duty 24 hours a day at Kennedy House and also at the council’s other high rise blocks: Harbour Towers, Staner Court and Trove Court in Ramsgate and Invicta House in Margate.
“Waking watch officers patrol the building to detect fire and if found, to raise the alarm. In the case of a fire, officers are trained to start an evacuation and prepare vital information for Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
“If waking watch officers witness aggressive or violent incidents, they must not get involved but instead, report the incident to Kent Police.
“Residents are advised that they should always call 999 if they witness, or are a victim of a serious crime.
“A damaged fire door in Kennedy House was repaired this morning (Wednesday 23 October) by council contractors.”
Kent Police confirmed officers attended the disturbance.
A spokesperson said: “Kent Police was called to a reported disturbance involving two people known to each other at a flat in Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate at 3.55am on Wednesday 23 October.
“Officers attended and spoke to those involved. Enquiries continue into potential criminal damage to a communal door.”
Well done Mark Hodder!
The quality of life in the ‘twin towers’has never been taken seriously by TDC.
Isn’t time the exterior cladding was sorted too?
Well done Mr Hodder to you and anyone who has the good sense to report anytime you hear someone in distress., I reported our neighbours were raping their young female lodger on a regular basis the police attended. Unfortunately the lady would not support a prosecution but at least she was saved and moved.
Nice one mark . Shows care in your community doesn’t happen often. Us residents up Royal Crescent have reported a nuisance neighbour for 10 + yrs arguing fighting drug dealing anti social behaviour constant police visits. And guess what it continues. I got an email from the council suggesting I move not them remove the nuisance neighbour .but i myself and my wife wouldn’t want to pass it on to another family that wouldn’t resolve the problem and then that family would dislike us for not informing them guess I’ve got a conscience.but keep on reporting Mark
If you moved ,and don’t tell new people of nuisance neighbours, you would be breaking the law ,I think ,as you have to tell new people about them .I hope at sometime in the near future they are kicked out for everybody’s sake
what a town this has become , its like something out of the wild west , and then these people with rose tinted glasses try to sugar coat it as a tourist spot ! come on face the facts its a drug and crime ridden dump
No it hasn’t. We are talking about people who behave abominably.
They are, thankfully a minority.
No, Ramsgate is not “a drug and crime-ridden dump”. “real world” has a very depressed and view of Ramsgate. I wonder whereabouts in Ramsgate he lives- and if he lives there at all.
“depressed and exaggerated view”
From reading the article, it seems that the 24/7 ”Walking Watch” are in fact fire wardens rather than security guards. They are not there to prevent the residents from bashing seven shades out of each other.
However, it does beg the questions as to (a) why TDC is spending what must be at least £600 a day to provide two wardens to each block and (b) why it is now seven years post Grenfell and yet the cladding has still not been removed ?
The waking watch are not secruity staff. They are fire wardens. These guys patrol all floors and check bin chutes. They make sure nothing is left in corridors that shouldn’t be there. I must say they do an excellent job. Regards to the cladding..the renovation of this starts very soon and the cladding will be removed and new fire doors. They have replaced the entire fire alarm system in all towers. Being a resident in Harbour towers the waking watch constantly walk round to check the tower. We haven’t had any problems since these guys have been at the tower. I dread the day they leave as I can see the old days returning..with druggies smoking in the corridors. I would definitely contribute to paying for these guys to stay permanently.