Locks to be changed in Belfast flats after PSNI handed the master keys
RESIDENTS of nine Belfast tower blocks are to get new locks after it was revealed the Housing Executive gave master keys to the police.
On Thursday the PSNI said it had returned the keys following concerns raised by people living in the New Lodge.
The Housing Executive asked the police to take the keys for emergency or life and death situation, police said.
Officers had used the keys a number of times to access people’s homes. Police did not go into any details of these instances.
Yesterday the public housing body revealed it had offered to change the locks in all the New Lodge flats, as well as those in Mount Vernon.
Police were not given master keys for the Mount Vernon homes, the Housing Executive added. The organisation would not elaborate as to why the two areas had been included.
It was also unable to provide a cost or estimate for the number of homes affected.
The Housing Executive said: “A letter was hand-delivered to every resident living in the New Lodge and Mount Vernon tower blocks.
“Access to Housing Executive tower blocks by all visitors, including the emergency services, is permitted only by concierges employed by the Housing Executive to operate a 24-hour service at the tower blocks.
“CCTV is also present on each floor of the blocks. Unfortunately, there may be occasion when it is necessary to access a flat in a life or death situation.
“As a health and safety measure, the PSNI was provided with master keys to enable such emergency access to a flat where a person’s life may be at risk.
“The provision of a master key to the PSNI was to enable them to access flats in these emergency life and death situations.
“After concerns were raised by residents in the New Lodge, we have offered all of those living in the blocks the opportunity to have their door locks changed.
“We have also been liaising with resident representatives and elected representatives on the matter. After contacting the PSNI, they have advised they are not in possession of a set of master keys for Mount Vernon.
“As a result, the Housing Executive has taken the decision to offer a change of locks for each resident in Mount Vernon.
“The Housing Executive regrets any inconvenience caused.
“We can confirm that there have been no other instances where keys have been given to the PSNI for individual properties belonging to the Housing Executive.”
North Belfast Sinn Feın MLA Caral Ni Chuilin said residents in the New Lodge tower blocks welcomed the fact the PSNI had handed back the keys.
“In order to offer assurance to the residents, they should be given the option of having their locks changed,” she added.