Invesco
Action Taken
The organisation has installed over 200 automated cameras, including PTZ cameras with motion sensors on the top level of the car park. They have also upgraded the security control room, installed a red wall sensor, worked with the Samaritans, and are playing positive music in the stairwells. (AI summary)
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Dear Sirs Inquest into the Death of Lynn Margaret Graham Regulation 28 Report to Prevent a Future Death We refer to the Regulation 28 Report issued on 30 July 2014 in accordance with Paragraph 7 , Schedule 5,of the Coroners Justice Act 2009 and Regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013,in respect of the above named Deceased. In accordance with the requirement that we provide a response to the Regulation 28 Report by 245 September 2014,we set out our response below: Concerns raised by HM Coroner HM Coroner has identified the following concerns Which have arisen during the course of his inquiry: There have been a number of suicides from 2006 onwards, where individuals have taken their own lives by jumping from Queensgate Car Parks_ The current design of the car park is not effective in preventing jumps and the recent refurbishment of the car parks did not lead to the erection of barrierslincreasing the height of the walls. The car park at Peterborough Hospital which was opened in 2010 and is therefore of modern design, was constructed in such a way as to provide a significant obstacle to jumping as the wall on the top floor is approximately three metres high By contrast; the walls at the upper foors of the Queensgate car parks and other city centre car parks, are at a low level ad do not operate as an effective barrier to jumping; Falls from the car parks have been into areas where the public use pavements and there is clearly a risk of death to pedestrians also There is evidence in the medical notes and records of some of those who have taken their own lives, that car parks are seen as a means of 'effecting death by jumping: Finally, within the Regulation 28 Report; HM Coroner enclosed a paper by and others (BMC Public Health 2013,13.214) , which concluded that notwithstanding certain limitations of the review undertaken, access to means through the installation of barriers can be effective in averting suicides at hotspots and does not lead to substitution effects. IREEF - Queensgate Peterborough PropCo S.arl societe & responsabilite limitee Registered office: 37 A, Avenue J F. Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg RC,S. Luxembourg B 182.611 Share Capital GBP 12,500.00 Gormly and City reducing
Invesco Background IREEF Queensgate Peterborough PropCo s.a rl. (IREEF") acquired the centre in January 2014 ad since acquisition have identified that there been a recent increase in the number of attempted suicides and suicides at the Queensgate Centre in Peterborough, We therefore instructed Workman LLP, the largest independent commercial property management and building consultancy firm in the UK, o 20 June 2014, to review ad consider physical alterations to infilllover-clad openings to the car park floors. Workman was instructed to progress with a full feasibility study to consider options ad costs for a number of infll and over-clad solutions. The feasibility team comprises the following: Workman LLP _ Project Manager / Coordinator Beyond Architect Designer Sweett Group Cost Consultant Nathaniel Litchfield and Partners Planning Consultant Centre Management Team - Queensgate Following the instruction of Workman LLP_an introde meeting was held with Centre Director; on 25 June 2014_ At that meeting provided a summary of the history, in terms of suicide attempts at the Queensgate Centre also provided the feasibility team with the research paper prepared by and others (BMC Public Health 2013, 13.214) as referenced above, which was provided to the team as part of the briefing process. Proposals feasibility team was asked to consider various solutions for the of openings and over-cladding of the Queensgate Car Parks: The matters for discussion were:
3.1 Phasinglpriorities It was identified that inevitably, given the scale of the project ad in order to ensure the ongoing business operation of the Centre, the works to inflllover-clad the car parks will need to be undertaken on a phased basis. It was therefore determined that the work should be undertaken on a priorty basis and the following prioritisation has been agreed:
3.1.1 Priority one works this includes all parts of the car parks where the level in question is four storeys and above ground level. The bus station elevations above second floor level of the green and red car park, are also considered priority one works, given the higher percentage of suicides from these areas and the potential number of witnesses,
3.1.2 Priority two works this includes all parts of the car parks, where the level in question is and three storeys above ground level, had luctory key The infilling key from two
Invesco
3.1.3 Priority three works this includes all parts of the car parks where the level is one storey above ground level or at ground level,
3.2 Options The Architect Designer; Beyond was asked to consider a number of infill over-clad options. Beyond subsequently produced a number of options which were presented at an interim presentation on 18 July 2014 to us as the Landlord, The initial feedback from (he presentation was that a web-net system; which is a flexible stainless mesh system , with crimps available in a number of different size meshes and with different grade steel wire, was deemed to be the preferred solution. Further to the meeting held on 18 July 2014, it was agreed that given a web-net system was the preferred solution, a small number of samples of the system should be installed, In conjunction with this further technical literature should be obtained on the product and investigations undertaken into alternative manufacturers with similar systems. Arrangements were also made for representatives of the feasibility team to conduct a site visit to a location where a web-net system was in use in order to assess the suitability of the option ad that visit took place on 20 August 2014. Following that site visit, an updated final presentation was held on 12 September 2014, where further detail was provided by Beyond to Landlord on the web-net system. At that meeting it was agreed in principal that the preferred option was the infill option of the web-net system: Planning Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners (NLP) have been appointed to advise on the planning implications of the proposed work and the works are likely to require building control approval. The works will also fall under the requirements of the Construction (Design ad Management) Regulations 2007 and will be notifiable to the Health Executive . Next Steps & Indicative Timescales Subject to approval from the Landlord, the following steps will be taken to progress the scheme: 2014 Consultant team to finalise the design detail Sample web-net system to be installed on site Planning application to be submitted and building control approval to be obtained Project tender we will proceed with tenders for the works 2015 Construction commences Additional Measures In addition to the programme of works t be carried out as outlined at paragraph 5 above, We have already introduced the interventions in an effort to deter suicide attempts at Queensgate Car Parks: the Safety final inviting following
Invesco
6.1 More than 200 automated cameras have been installed over the last 4 years;
6.2 We have installed PTZ (Pan, Tilt and Zoom) digital cameras in the top level of the car park to detect any persons acting suspiciously. The cameras have an automated motion sensor and as such when any movement is detected, they send a digital image to a video wall in the security control room, which is monitored 24 hours a day, days a week; 6,3 We have upgraded our security control room with the installation of the latest digital CCTV equipment which is monitored by two security officers who sit in the control room;
6.4 We have installed a red wall sensor which is a light sensor which detects individuals accessing the car parks;
6.5 Working with the Samaritans local stakeholder groups including provision of training;
6.5 Research has shown that music can be beneficial in influencing mood and as such we play positive music in the stairwells as this may assist with anyone acting on impulse ad afford us time to detect the individual before any attempt is made_ We trust that the information provided demonstrates that substantial measures have already been taken to address the concerns that you have raised and that further measures are in progress We also wish to assure you that we are working as expeditiously as possible to address the concerns that you have raised, Further; the onsite Queensgate team led by Centre Director, will continue to liaise and engage with the Suicide Implementation Prevention Group to ensure that progress with these works is communicated to the relevant parties Finally, please contact] Asset Manager) should you require any additional on the matters raised in this letter:
Invesco Background IREEF Queensgate Peterborough PropCo s.a rl. (IREEF") acquired the centre in January 2014 ad since acquisition have identified that there been a recent increase in the number of attempted suicides and suicides at the Queensgate Centre in Peterborough, We therefore instructed Workman LLP, the largest independent commercial property management and building consultancy firm in the UK, o 20 June 2014, to review ad consider physical alterations to infilllover-clad openings to the car park floors. Workman was instructed to progress with a full feasibility study to consider options ad costs for a number of infll and over-clad solutions. The feasibility team comprises the following: Workman LLP _ Project Manager / Coordinator Beyond Architect Designer Sweett Group Cost Consultant Nathaniel Litchfield and Partners Planning Consultant Centre Management Team - Queensgate Following the instruction of Workman LLP_an introde meeting was held with Centre Director; on 25 June 2014_ At that meeting provided a summary of the history, in terms of suicide attempts at the Queensgate Centre also provided the feasibility team with the research paper prepared by and others (BMC Public Health 2013, 13.214) as referenced above, which was provided to the team as part of the briefing process. Proposals feasibility team was asked to consider various solutions for the of openings and over-cladding of the Queensgate Car Parks: The matters for discussion were:
3.1 Phasinglpriorities It was identified that inevitably, given the scale of the project ad in order to ensure the ongoing business operation of the Centre, the works to inflllover-clad the car parks will need to be undertaken on a phased basis. It was therefore determined that the work should be undertaken on a priorty basis and the following prioritisation has been agreed:
3.1.1 Priority one works this includes all parts of the car parks where the level in question is four storeys and above ground level. The bus station elevations above second floor level of the green and red car park, are also considered priority one works, given the higher percentage of suicides from these areas and the potential number of witnesses,
3.1.2 Priority two works this includes all parts of the car parks, where the level in question is and three storeys above ground level, had luctory key The infilling key from two
Invesco
3.1.3 Priority three works this includes all parts of the car parks where the level is one storey above ground level or at ground level,
3.2 Options The Architect Designer; Beyond was asked to consider a number of infill over-clad options. Beyond subsequently produced a number of options which were presented at an interim presentation on 18 July 2014 to us as the Landlord, The initial feedback from (he presentation was that a web-net system; which is a flexible stainless mesh system , with crimps available in a number of different size meshes and with different grade steel wire, was deemed to be the preferred solution. Further to the meeting held on 18 July 2014, it was agreed that given a web-net system was the preferred solution, a small number of samples of the system should be installed, In conjunction with this further technical literature should be obtained on the product and investigations undertaken into alternative manufacturers with similar systems. Arrangements were also made for representatives of the feasibility team to conduct a site visit to a location where a web-net system was in use in order to assess the suitability of the option ad that visit took place on 20 August 2014. Following that site visit, an updated final presentation was held on 12 September 2014, where further detail was provided by Beyond to Landlord on the web-net system. At that meeting it was agreed in principal that the preferred option was the infill option of the web-net system: Planning Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners (NLP) have been appointed to advise on the planning implications of the proposed work and the works are likely to require building control approval. The works will also fall under the requirements of the Construction (Design ad Management) Regulations 2007 and will be notifiable to the Health Executive . Next Steps & Indicative Timescales Subject to approval from the Landlord, the following steps will be taken to progress the scheme: 2014 Consultant team to finalise the design detail Sample web-net system to be installed on site Planning application to be submitted and building control approval to be obtained Project tender we will proceed with tenders for the works 2015 Construction commences Additional Measures In addition to the programme of works t be carried out as outlined at paragraph 5 above, We have already introduced the interventions in an effort to deter suicide attempts at Queensgate Car Parks: the Safety final inviting following
Invesco
6.1 More than 200 automated cameras have been installed over the last 4 years;
6.2 We have installed PTZ (Pan, Tilt and Zoom) digital cameras in the top level of the car park to detect any persons acting suspiciously. The cameras have an automated motion sensor and as such when any movement is detected, they send a digital image to a video wall in the security control room, which is monitored 24 hours a day, days a week; 6,3 We have upgraded our security control room with the installation of the latest digital CCTV equipment which is monitored by two security officers who sit in the control room;
6.4 We have installed a red wall sensor which is a light sensor which detects individuals accessing the car parks;
6.5 Working with the Samaritans local stakeholder groups including provision of training;
6.5 Research has shown that music can be beneficial in influencing mood and as such we play positive music in the stairwells as this may assist with anyone acting on impulse ad afford us time to detect the individual before any attempt is made_ We trust that the information provided demonstrates that substantial measures have already been taken to address the concerns that you have raised and that further measures are in progress We also wish to assure you that we are working as expeditiously as possible to address the concerns that you have raised, Further; the onsite Queensgate team led by Centre Director, will continue to liaise and engage with the Suicide Implementation Prevention Group to ensure that progress with these works is communicated to the relevant parties Finally, please contact] Asset Manager) should you require any additional on the matters raised in this letter: