Skeleton key sales spark a safety alert

Published: 9 April 2010
by PETER GRUNER

SECURITY keys used by the emergency services, which can give strangers access to gated communities, are being sold freely in Islington.

Alarmed residents reported the issue to the borough’s housing agency, Homes for Islington (HFI), after they discovered that a pizza delivery firm delivering leaflets on their estate gained entrance using a key purchased from a local hardware store.

HFI are investigating how widely available the “restricted” keys are and whether they pose a major security threat on the borough’s council and private estates.

The Tribune contacted several hardware stores and were offered the keys without question.  

Martin Rutherford, who represents 240 residents on the Popham estate in Angel, where the pizza firm gained entrance, alerted HFI over the issue. He said being able to obtain a key from a shop that will give access to an estate makes nonsense of any security measures. 

Mr Rutherford added: “Obviously firemen and the emergency services need their over-ride keys in case of an incident. But there is a serious anomaly here if those keys are freely available in hardware shops.”

Labour councillor Gary Doolan said that it is a legal requirement to provide a firemen’s lock on all security gates.

He added: “But the keys should only be available to the emergency services or professional people who work on an estate and who can prove who they are. Hardware shops should not be selling these keys. But I understand you can buy one for £5 or £6. I suspect this is a borough-wide problem – but with more gated communities than ever it could also be a national issue.” 

Brian Potter, chairman of Islington tenants and leaseholders association, said millions of pounds had been spent on high-tech security for the borough’s estates.

He added: “Every resident over 15 has a fob that will allow them to get on an estate and they can always get into the wrong hands. But the idea of a shop selling keys that can be purchased by a stranger and can allow them to get on an estate does appear to make a mockery of the idea of security.

“But if a pizza firm can obtain a key, why shouldn’t anyone?” 

Brief telephone calls to several hardware shops in the borough revealed that the keys were available. One shop worker offering to sell the Tribune a key asked if our reporter was planning to commit burglary on an estate.

Only Franchi locksmiths in Holloway Road said that the keys were “restricted” and only available to contractors with authority.   

An HFI spokeswoman said: “We have been alerted to someone using an unofficial key and are in touch with them requesting that they desist. If there are any further problems residents should contact us at their local area housing office, we will be happy to assist.”

– Additional reporting by Rajdeep Sandhu