Safeguarding Children In Tower Blocks

In May 2024, two young lives were tragically lost in falls from London tower blocks.

The devastating incidents involved 5-year-old Aalim Makail, who fell from the 15th floor window of Jacob's House in Newham on the 17th of May, and 12-year-old Renoy Ellis, who fell from Ward Point in Kennington less than two weeks later. Our thoughts are with the families and communities affected by these heartbreaking losses.

Tower Blocks UK have long voiced the urgent need for changes to housing policies to ensure the safety of children in high-rise dwellings. The objective is clear: to avoid such tragedies through thoughtful housing allocation.

Around the corner from Jacob's House, toddler David Cash lost his life in the 1980s after placing his tricycle over the balcony of his high rise home and following it. Newham Council had had a policy of not housing families with young children above the 4th floor which they hadn’t been able to stick to. Other local authorities including Lambeth and Brent had similar allocations rules, however, challenges in housing supply meant that these policies were never sustained.

In 1987, our National Tower Blocks Network (NTBN) Directory highlighted the dangers of falls from balconies, windows, lift shafts, and rubbish chutes. We emphasised the need for housing authorities to implement allocation policies that would prioritise the safety of families with young children, recognising that children were at particular risk as they do not understand heights. We also raised concerns about the impact of limited play space and social opportunities on child development.

Meanwhile, tenant associations across the country were mobilising to tackle similar concerns. In the late 1980s and early 1990s Bristol residents established the 'Children in High Rise Working Party,' emphasising the need for additional play space and services for children to compensate for the developmental restrictions of growing up in high-rise blocks. However, challenges in interpretation and enactment of the Children's Act 1989 effectively meant that each local authority could apply the legislation in its own way.

Barton Hill residents in Bristol launched the campaign 'Blocks Are No Place For Children.’ As part of this initiative, a 70ft banner was hung from the 14th floor balcony of Barton House to exert pressure on the council.

Surveys conducted on the estate revealed the reluctance of many families with children to be living in high-rise blocks. This led to policy amendments by Bristol City Council to avoid housing families in tower blocks unless expressly requested, but again, housing pressures meant this policy was not maintained. Fast forward several decades to December 2023 and the persistent challenges faced by families in high-rise living situations is highlighted again as Barton House families were evacuated by the council due to structural and fire safety issues. Entire families were forced to spend the festive season cooped up in hotel rooms where viruses and bed bug infestations ran rife.

In 1992, NTBN collaborated with the Child Accident Prevention Trust to develop a ‘child safety audit’ - a housing checklist to be used by residents and estate managers. The list addressed common hazards for children in high-rise blocks such as risks from falls, gaps in banisters and balustrades, window restrictors, access to lift motor rooms, bin chutes, flat roofs and walkways. The aim was to reduce the risk of accidents and advocate for the removal of dangerous features.

In the mid 1990’s Sheffield’s former Cabinet Member for Housing and tower block resident Peter McLoughlin produced a report entitled ‘Up in Arms’ covering the various problems faced by children living in high rise blocks.

Despite these efforts and the awareness of local authorities and housing associations about the dangers, children continue to die in tower block accidents as highlighted in this BBC report.

In July 2022, 2 year-old Exodus Eyob tragically died after falling from the window of his family's 7th floor flat in Leeds. Exodus’ parents had previously raised concerns with the local authority about the safety of their windows. The advocacy of Exodus’ family alongside their Inquest lawyers has led to a national campaign to make it mandatory to install permanent restrictors in all high-rise residential buildings. Tower Blocks UK supports this appeal to the government. The initiative underscores the urgent need for lessons to be learned and immediate changes to safety regulations and housing allocations to tackle these longstanding challenges and prevent further tragedies involving children in high-rise environments.

As history continuously reminds us of the imperative to protect our most vulnerable, the safety and well-being of children in tower blocks is a matter that demands immediate attention and steadfast action.