Camden Council accused of gaslighting residents over roof invasion

One man said that he had not reported a series of subsequent trespass incidents, as he was so aggrieved by the way Camden had dismissed his account. 

Earlier this month, Camden told the Ham&High that intruders had “scaled the security fence” around the Bray tower block and climbed scaffolding.  

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But on the same day, it sent a letter to residents of the block, on the Chalcots estate in Swiss Cottage, saying it did not believe the incident had actually occurred. 

“You can imagine my shock when I saw your article,” said Simon Happily. 

“It appears they said one thing to you and another thing to us. It’s like an Orwellian dystopia.” 

 Simon dialled 999 on December 1 to report trespassers on the roof.  

“I live on the top floor,” he said. “I heard footsteps above me.” 

When officers arrived, he suggested speaking to his neighbour as well. 

She too told the police that she too had heard people walking around above her. 

She had heard them the night before as well, she added. 

The view from the roof of the 22-storey Bray building (Image: Simon Happily)

Mixed Messages 

The following morning, said Simon, posters went up in the foyer urging residents to keep their windows closed overnight, due to intruders on the scaffolding. 

Camden issued a statement to the Ham&High, stating that the trespass incident had occurred.  

But the posters then “vanished”, said Simon, and Camden posted a letter through people’s doors, which said officers had “found no evidence that any individuals were up there last night”. 

“The roof hatch was secured and locked as it should be,” it said. 

But, said Simon, the roof hatch was irrelevant, given that the allegation was that people had climbed up via the scaffolding. 

Nonetheless, the letter concluded: “We don’t believe there was anyone on the roof or the scaffolding last night.” 

'Gaslighted' 

“I was not exactly happy about that,” said Simon.  

“Just because they didn’t find any evidence that somebody had been there, that doesn’t mean that somebody wasn’t there. 

“When you’ve got two people from two different flats saying they heard it, why are you saying that you don’t believe us? 

“They said: ‘Are you sure it wasn’t a bird?'

"I said it would have to have been Emu – with Rod Hull attached. It was proper, stomping footsteps.” 

Simon Happily said he found the council's scepticism 'offensive' (Image: Simon Happily)

He found the scepticism “very offensive” he said, adding: “I felt totally gaslighted by Camden Council." 

Simon said he and others had since heard people walking around on the roof overnight several more times, and seen people climbing on the scaffolding. 

“I didn’t report it because I just thought, well, what’s the point? They’re just going to deny it happened,” he said. 

Camden Council 

Asked why it had told the Ham&High that the incident did occur, but told residents on the same day that the council believed it did not occur, Camden Council insisted it took the reports “very seriously”. 

It said it had “since written to all Bray’s residents to invite them to provide any further information they may have on this matter". 

“We have also provided residents with a number to call if they see or hear someone on the scaffolding between 5pm and 8am,” it continued. 

“Having further reviewed this incident following the initial reports, we can confirm that nobody was found on site when the police arrived and the council and the police have not seen any physical evidence that people were on site in the areas reported. 

“This doesn’t however mean that an incident hasn’t occurred and we take residents’ reports very seriously.  

“Our strong message remains that trespass of the type reported is illegal, reckless and very unsafe. 

“We thank residents for their vigilance and support and, together with the police, we will investigate any future incidents raised.”