Marlin Apartments must ensure better security at Empire Square

Private resident of 4/F East As a recent resident here, I feel astonished and shocked by this incident. I would like to stress the follow four main points: 1. There should be a 24 hour manned reception desk with at the East block lobby 2. There should be regular patrol to maintain security of the block (e.g. every 1 hour on each floor) 3. A security camera should be fitted at the lift area on each floor 4. The cost of the above should be addressed to Marlin Apartment only

I'm not sure why the default country is Romania (!) but I am also an empire square east permanent resident. Thanks for putting this together, Will.

Flat 41 East Agree that Marlin Apartments needs to take responsibility for this event and communicate with residents how this can be avoided in the future. I have like some of the other commentators experienced other unacceptable and unsociable activity from Marlin Apartment guests particularly escalating in recent years. Obviously this particular incident was particularly scary but I feel not unexpected given some of the behaviour I have witnessed even just in the lift/corridors. I agree with others that the FirstPort and Concierge team do a fab job on security and this really needs to be addressed by the Marlin Apartment team.

Flat 45 East - I have also sent an email directly to Marlin Apartments, copying the FirstPort team, addressing the issue of security. Email extract is below: "I was not surprised at all when I discovered that: (i) the Flat involved was a Marlin Apartment; and (ii) the people involved were guests of Marlin Apartments. This is not the first time that Marlin Apartments has allowed criminal activity to occur in Empire Square. I have lived in Empire Square for 5 years now and I have seen other cases when Marlin Apartments have rented out accommodation to persons who use the Flat for criminal activity (for example, for selling drugs out of, or hosting parties to use drugs). Marlin Apartments' continued carelessness and negligence for the safety and security of tenants that live in Empire Square is astonishing. Frankly, there is no security at all at Empire Square because of Marlin Apartments: (1) the FOB entry is useless because random people from the street press the 'Concierge' button, and Marlin Apartment staff always will just simply open the door for anyone and let these people in and up the lifts without even questioning who they are; and (2) the entrance to the Empire Square East building is outside and out-of-sight of the Marlin Apartments' Concierge and therefore the staff of Marlin Apartments have no ability whatsoever to control the people that Marlin Apartments' guests invite into the building. I therefore, on behalf of all residents that call Empire Square their home, ask that Marlin Apartments' please provide responses to the following questions: (1) how will you manage the clean-up operation - the 4th Floor corridor (including our front door) and the main stairwell is covered in blood, this needs to be cleaned up at the expense of Marlin Apartments immediately; (2) how will you improve security at Empire Square generally - please do not let anyone into the building because they press the 'Concierge' button, staff should question who these

This is just on the extreme end of what is unacceptable. I've ben privy to one too many inappropriate short lets in our building which have resulted in booming music and scores of sometimes suspiciously numerous visitors. I would appreciate if Marlin could be stricter about their rules and think more about the families that make their home in this building and want the peace to know they are safe. We need to see something change.

I live in Empire Square East (not Romania!). This was a horrific incident and I urge Marlin Apartments to take urgency action to ensure security residents and put in place rules/regulations and proper screening of service flat renters.