Security gaffe is latest damning indictment of council care for residents in wake of tower block flooding
By Nub News Reporter 2nd Dec 2025
THURROCK Council has apologised after blundering security officers at flooded Brisbane House in Tilbury breached GDPR rules and left confidential messages about a distressed resident in public view.
It's been a tortuous few weeks for the local council after the tower block was flooded and evacuated on Wednesday, 12 November and it has come in for significant criticism for the way it has managed the situation.
Council leader Cllr Lynn Worrall recently tried to defend the council and its staff, but criticism keeps coming.
At the weekend one of the evacuated residents, who has been living with her two children in the IBIS budget hotel in West Thurrock since the crisis began, returned to her flat at the weekend to obtain some family items.
She was allowed into the building accompanied by a representative of the security team but as she approached her flat she noticed water running down the walls and started to make a video recorded on her phone.
She was reprimanded by the security officer and told she wasn't allowed to film, even though she was effectively in her own home.
"I noticed that water was running down the wall, even though we have been told that has been dealt with. Water was gathering in a pool on the floor.
"I was worried about what I would find in my flat and took a film," the woman told Thurrock Nub News.
"The officer tried to stop me filming. I'm already at my wits end and stressed out by what's going on and I didn't need that. I admit I became angry and shouted at him and banged a door but I then left the building as he asked me to.
"I don't think they understand what we are going through. Myself and my children are trapped in a small hotel miles away from our home and my children's schools in Stanford-le-Hope. It's a nightmare what's happening to us and this is just another example of how we are being treated."
What the resident didn't know was that a log of the incident, with her personal details, was written by the security officer who also called the police and generated a crime reference number against her name after officers attended. The resident is described as 'a customer' on the log.
Police have since confirmed it is not a matter they have jurisdiction over and they have not got further involved.
To compound the situation, the report sheet was then left in public view in the concierge area of the tower block, where it could be read by anyone passing. It was there for at least two days and photographed by other residents visiting the building.
A copy of the report was sent to Nub News and we raised the matter with Thurrock Council who responded with this statement: "Thurrock Council apologises for this incident report log, and the information in it, not being stored privately and securely.
"We have raised this matter with our security contactors and been clear about our expectations of them in terms of how they handle, store and share personal information relating to residents.
"We will contact the resident concerned to apologise personally."
Related stories:-
Editor speak up with damning criticism of council's lack of humanity in wake of flats flooding: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2139660506859933
Community rallies: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/community-centre-is-rallying-point-for-local-support-as-families-face-uncertain-future-after-flats-flooding-279358
Christmas return not likely: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/displaced-residents-not-likely-to-be-back-in-soaked-tower-block-homes-until-next-week-278980
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