The decisive action taken by Avon and Somerset Police, Curo Housing and Bath Magistrates’ Court to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour at Berkeley House in Bath has highlighted the increasingly important role that physical security plays in protecting residents and restoring confidence in communal living.
Following months of unauthorised access, drug use, violence, intimidation and vandalism within the building’s communal areas, a three-month partial closure order has been introduced, restricting access to residents, authorised visitors and approved personnel. Alongside increased police enforcement, further measures are now being implemented to reinforce the building’s entrance doors and improve security through CCTV.
For Birmingham security manufacturer Warrior Doors, the events underline an issue facing housing providers nationwide: effective access control begins with the communal entrance.
Managing Director Brett Barratt believes secure entrance systems should be viewed as essential infrastructure that helps prevent problems from developing, rather than simply responding once they have escalated.
“Once unauthorised individuals are repeatedly gaining access to a residential building, the impact reaches every part of the community,” he says. “Residents feel unsafe, caretaking teams face increasing challenges, maintenance costs rise and police resources are drawn in. A properly engineered communal entrance provides the first layer of protection by controlling who can enter the building.”
Police described how residents at Berkeley House—including vulnerable tenants, elderly people and families—had endured months of distress caused by unlawful access to communal corridors, stairwells and lifts. As well as criminal activity, housing providers were left managing significant cleaning, repair and operational costs while legal action became necessary to regain control of the building.
Barratt believes many of these issues can be significantly reduced through investment in robust physical security from the outset.
“Security works best when it prevents problems rather than reacting to them,” he explains. “A well-designed communal entrance immediately reduces opportunities for unauthorised access and helps create an environment where residents feel secure in their own homes.”
As housing associations and local authorities continue investing in safer communities, greater attention is being given to whole-life performance rather than simply initial procurement costs.
Communal entrance doors are among the hardest-working components of any residential building, operating thousands of times each month while being subjected to heavy daily use, attempted forced entry, vandalism and harsh weather conditions. Systems designed purely around initial cost often require repeated repairs or premature replacement, increasing long-term expenditure and disruption.
Warrior Doors manufactures its communal entrance systems from high-grade stainless steel, providing exceptional durability and corrosion resistance compared with conventional mild steel alternatives. The company’s security doors are manufactured to Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPS) standards and independently tested by BRE, providing housing providers with independently verified security performance. Warrior Doors also works in partnership with Secured by Design, the official police security initiative, helping ensure products support recognised crime prevention principles.
“Independent certification gives housing providers confidence that a door has been tested to perform in demanding environments,” says Barratt. “Equally important is the material it’s manufactured from. Stainless steel delivers the long-term durability required for buildings that experience constant use, helping reduce maintenance and replacement costs throughout the life of the asset.”
The Berkeley House intervention also demonstrates how closely policing, housing management and physical security now work together. While enforcement powers, neighbourhood policing and resident engagement all remain essential, controlling access at the entrance is one of the most effective ways of reducing opportunities for anti-social behaviour before it becomes established.
“For us, a communal entrance isn’t simply a door,” Barratt concludes. “It’s the building’s primary security barrier. When it’s manufactured to recognised LPS standards, independently BRE tested, built from stainless steel and supported through our partnership with Secured by Design, it becomes a long-term investment in resident safety, operational resilience and community confidence.”
As housing providers continue investing in safer neighbourhoods, the message is becoming increasingly clear: protecting residents begins at the entrance.
