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Safer neighbourhoods
ASB in Ottawa Tower: You Said, we did
Date published: 24.07.26
You said: We don’t feel safe
Customers at Ottawa Tower in Birmingham raised concerns about rough sleeping, drug-related activity, and antisocial behaviour within the block.
People were regularly gaining access to communal areas to sleep, smoke, and engage in unsafe behaviour.
Customers told us they were worried about security in the building and wanted to see visible action taken to make the environment safer and calmer.
We brought partners together to act
In response, we launched a coordinated partnership approach involving our Neighbourhood Team, Police partners, SSG Concierge and Mobile Patrols, and the Local Authority.
By working together, partners have been able to respond more quickly to incidents, increase visibility within the block, and tackle ongoing issues more effectively.
We increased patrols and monitoring
SSG’s concierge service and mobile patrol teams increased their presence at Ottawa Tower, helping to monitor the building, move individuals on quickly, and prevent unauthorised access.
The concierge team continues to keep a close eye on the building and reports concerns immediately so action can be taken without delay.
We strengthened partnership working
Police partners have supported the response through enforcement activity, safeguarding, and intelligence sharing, helping all agencies better understand and address the issues affecting the block.
To ensure continued oversight, our Neighbourhood Officer now attends Ottawa Tower every week to monitor concerns, engage with customers, and provide reassurance.
We made long-term security improvements
Alongside the immediate response, long-term improvement has been made to make the building more secure.
We have installed a new communal door with key fob access and a new gate which blocks access from the main thoroughfare, a route commonly used by rough sleepers to enter the building.
These improvements are expected to further reduce unauthorised access attempts and help protect the block in the future.
The result: a safer and calmer environment
While there are still occasional attempts by individuals to gain entry, the frequency has reduced significantly.
What happens next
We’ll continue working closely with partner agencies to maintain these improvements, respond quickly to concerns, and ensure customers feel safe, supported, and confident in their homes.
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