CASE STUDY No.1
ARCHWAY CAMPUS
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ARCHWAY
CAMPUS
Teaching Campus in Archway
Vacated by University
3.5 acres
6 large buildings
Targeted by squatters
Listed on rave websites
The property was owned by University College London. Earmarked for sale, the property was being targeted by squatters, various websites highlighting its imminent closure.
Ambika Security installed caretakers to protect the campus whilst staff were packing up and leaving, thus ensuring that the property was never vacant. Working closely with UCL’s relocation team, Ambika provided a small team of caretakers ready to occupy buildings as they became vacant. With stringent fire, health and safety requirements, Ambika worked with UCL to devise a robust Fire Risk Assessment allowing our team to occupy the buildings whilst ensuring high level fire protection. Several attempted thefts and break-ins were foiled and details provided to the local Police.
THE AMBIKA SOLUTION
Install 24-hour security
Site Manager installed
Regular patrols
CCTV monitored
Perimeter fenced
Hundreds of doors secured
AMBIKA SAVED THE CLIENT £50,000
OVER 3 MONTHS COMPARED TO MANNED GUARDING.
CASE STUDY No.2
THE OLD ROSE
PUBLIC HOUSE IN SOUTH LONDON
Squatter-occupied for 4 months
25+ squatters
Vandalised
Regular raves and parties
Crime hot-spot
The property was owned by a housing association. The building was earmarked for demolition and new-build flats would be developed. Steel doors and shuttering proved to be ineffective and were used to create secure areas for drug dealing within the property. Graffiti and fly-tipping became commonplace. The housing association instructed Ambika Security to provide resident caretakers on-site.
THE AMBIKA SOLUTION
Ambika attended the eviction with bailiffs
Locks were changed, doors and windows secured
Refuse was removed and the property cleaned
Showers / toilets were installed to make the building habitable
Live in security secured the property
Property returned to client as per redevelopment schedule
Savings of thousands of pounds to the client for security and no delays to construction
CASE STUDY No.3
CENTRAL LONDON
PUBLIC SECTOR PROPERTY
We were contacted by a large property development company, who 6 month previously, had purchased a central London public sector property. Built in the late 19C, the 60,000 sq. ft, building had both Victorian and war-time historical importance to English Heritage. However, the property had been squatted while under the management of another security company.
Ambika Security attended the squatters’ eviction and took over management of the site thereafter. As an instant response, K9 units and static Guards were implemented for an initial 3-week period to immediately regain control of the property. Several additional invasion attempts were resisted, and during this time emergency maintenance works began including emergency attention to the heating, water and electricity systems on-site.
Over the following two months, further maintenance was conducted. Copper heating pipework was replaced as much of it had been stolen by the squatters, several long-term leaks were fixed, two flooded parts of the property were drained and CCTV-probe drainage flushes were conducted, which removed two booby traps left behind by squatters. All while facilitating client accesses and external fire alarm recovery visits.
Once the property was deemed habitable, Ambika moved in 16, Level-Two trained ‘Fire Marshall’ property Guardians and 3 SIA-Licensed Security officers to live permanently on-site to continue a high level of security. They replaced the static guards/dog handlers and used the facilities throughout the property, which ensured all parts of the property were visited regularly for active maintenance.
THE OUTCOME
The building is now a well maintained and secure site, strongly contrasting with how it was less than a year ago; a magnet for illegal activities & anti-social behaviour. Ambika Security is now working with the client to maximise the property to its fullest extent and overseeing visits from local authorities and Heritage England.