The 'secure' door of a car park where a woman was attacked and raped hadn't been working for over a year.
On Sunday, September 18, a woman was raped and attacked by a stranger in broad daylight at the Royal Liverpool Hospital's NCP multi-storey car park. The woman is being supported by officers after the horrific attack and a police investigation into the incident is ongoing.
After The ECHO published an article on the attack last week, a number of sources came forward to speak of their shock, fear, and anger. One woman who works at The Royal and asked not to be named said female staff are "at risk of attack" due to a number of issues with the NCP car park.
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She said a "secure" door, which requires a swipe card to open, has not been working for over a year, meaning "any member of the public" can enter the car park "without detection". She added that when the door stopped working people would "yank it", meaning the handle fell off.
A picture of the door shows the handle being held together with yellow and black tape.
The hospital worker said: "It's not a struggle to open [the 'secure' door], in fact, the door has been propped wide open for the last few days and this is a week on from the attack. The Trust say they have upped security, but I use this car park daily and have not seen a single security patrol or action, nor have any of my colleagues.
"I can remember a time where the door worked over a year ago, and we have all told The Trust about it being broken but nothing has changed. We are being ignored.
"There is a lot of fear and distressingly, the Trust has not taken any action to prevent such an attack from happening again. Every day female doctors, nurses and support staff are risking attack as they come to work to take care of others."
The source added there is only one CCTV camera in the six-floor car park and none covering the pedestrian entrance or staff corridor and an empty security office with no one patrolling.
The issues raised by our source were taken to Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and James Sumner, chief executive, told The ECHO he knows "there is more they can do".
He said: “We are listening and responding to the concerns of our colleagues, as we take their personal safety very seriously. We know there is more we can do, and are doing, to help people feel safer at work.
"We are working with NCP, the operators of the Royal Liverpool staff car park, to help improve security to the building. This includes reinstating the electronic access control system and door handle by the end of next week.
"We’re also taking other measures such as providing personal alarms, CCTV improvements and additional security across sites."
A spokesperson for NCP said: “We are aware of the current investigation concerning an alleged incident on this car park and the Police are currently carrying out their enquiries. Please be reassured that we do have staff carrying out regular patrols of the car park and since these concerns were raised the Trust has sent their security team to also carry out patrols.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident, which happened between 10.30am and 1pm on Sunday, September 18, or who has information which could help us with inquiries, is asked to DM @MerPolCC, message ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook’ or contact @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 with reference 22000696768.
For women who have felt or feel unsafe in public spaces the Home Office has set up a pilot service ( StreetSafe | Police.uk (www.police.uk) for anyone to anonymously report public places where they have felt or feel unsafe, because of environmental issues, eg street lighting, abandoned buildings or vandalism and/or because of some behaviours, eg being followed or verbally abused. Please note: 'StreetSafe' is not for reporting crime or incidents.
If something has happened to you or someone you know (including in public spaces online) you can call us on 101 or find out what online reporting services are available at StreetSafe | Police.uk (www.police.uk)
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